In all honesty, this came about when a guy came up to me last week during an event at our State Capitol. My wife and I own a company that makes soaps w/hops and malt, dog treats made of spent grains, and other bath and pet products. We also launched a small batch brew kit line that we are currently working to promote.
Anyway, this guy who works for the dept. of ag. told me he was looking for a brewer for this restaurant he wants to open. I told him I'm interested, and he told me he'd be willing to give me up to 50% ownership. He said he has a business plan, but I don't how detailed it is. I'd have to look at it. He seems like a good guy with a lot of passion for good food. I don't think he knows too much about beer, and has no clue what it takes run a brew pub. So that's why he's looking for a brewer. I really don't know where this is going to go at this point, but I do want to steer him (and myself) in the right direction.
As far as I'm concerned, this is an excercise in figuring out what it would take to open a successful brewpub operation. The state of Oklahoma is just beginning to see an emerging craft beer scene, but the brewpub scene sucks. There are only a few in the state and the ones that exist are crap. Given that scenario, this is good time to open a brew pub - as long at is can serve quality 3.2 ABW beer (as per OK statute). I realize the challenges ahead of me are great, but I would be pretty upset with myself if I didn't try. What sucks is the attitude among brewers in this state that 3.2 beer is no good. I'm positive I can prove them wrong.
The least I can do at this point, is to give him an estimate of what it would cost to run a brewpub, and figure out a way to get a full-time brewer on site. It's really kinda fun...so far!