Throughout the month of December the Alexandria SBDC will be highlighting some of our clients to get an inside scoop of what their holiday season looks like.
Name: Bill Butcher
Business Name: Port City Brewing Company
How long have you been in business in Alexandria? Since 2011. It will be 12 years in February.
Tell me a little about your business: We are a small craft brewery located in the West End of Alexandria. We brew traditional styles of beer with authentic ingredients and true to style recipes. Our beers have garnered acclaim for their quality around the world. We have won multiple medals in beer competitions in the United States and Europe.
How has the SBDC supported your business? We have been able to take advantage of many of the services offered by the Alexandria SBDC, including advising on Human Resources concerns, several small business roundtable discussions, and networking opportunities with other business owners in Alexandria.
Something unique you are doing this holiday season with your business(es). Any holiday deals?
We have a busy holiday season planned, starting with our Holiday Makers Mart on November 26, from 12-5pm. This is a holiday pop up market featuring more than 30 local makers, including candles, books, games, art , home décor, clothes and gifts for pets. We are working with Made in ALX to put on this festive holiday market.
We will follow this up with our Good Tidings Sunday, on December 4th. Good Tidings Sunday celebrates a day filled with cheer and beer. Taking place from 12 p.m. – 7 p.m., the event will feature Port City’s flagship craft beers, including Tidings Ale, our holiday seasonal offering, a best-dressed holiday contest, trivia, holiday cheer, and a chance to win prizes and support a good cause.
Trivia will take place from 1-3 p.m. during the event and we will crown the winner with the coveted title of “Port City Trivia Champion.”
The event will also feature photos with Santa from 4-7 p.m
Favorite thing about the holiday season in Alexandria:
I always enjoy walking along King Street in Old Town and taking in the festive lights and decorations in the windows and in the restaurants. It definitely gets me in the spirit of the holidays!
Something you are thankful for:
I am thankful that for 12 years we have had very strong support from the community to sustain and help us grow our business. We are very lucky to have a supportive community of local bars and restaurants to promote and sell our locally brewed beer. We are also lucky to have such a hard working, dedicated team of brewers and coworkers who brew world class beer and present it to the market in a world class manner. I am also especially grateful for the community of craft beer drinkers who buy our beer in our restaurants and our retail shops. Without this strong support, we would not exist, and I remember this each and every day!
Favorite Alexandria business to visit during the holidays (besides your own):
We try to get out and support our Alexandria bars and restaurants that carry our beer during the holidays. It’s a great opportunity to reconnect with our customers and thank them for the business. We are fortunate to have so many great restaurants that support and promote our beers, and we make an extra effort to spend money in the places that buy our beer.
Favorite holiday tradition:
Every year we buy our tree from the Alexandria Police Youth Camp. Our two sons, Karen and I walk up to Alexandria Union Station with our kids’ red Radio Flyer wagon, pick out a tree, and the boys load it in the wagon and roll it home. We have done this for 17 years straight, since the kids were just little!
Highlight of the year (personal or business related):
One of the biggest highlights of the year was winning a Silver Medal at the 2022 World Beer Cup. It was a great honor to have our Downright Pilsner be recognized as one of the best in the world!
How people can find you (website, social media – Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn):
Website: https://www.portcitybrewing.com/
FB: @portcitybrewing
TW: @portcitybrew
IG: @portcitybrew