The next round

Tim Schoen used to be a mega-beer-maker executive.

But when he realized the stumbling blocks for labels just getting started in the industry, issues he knew well such as marketing, distribution and production, he saw an opportunity. Not to prevent craft beer brewers from gaining traction, but to help the upstarts.

That led to the formation of Brew Hub, which is backed by a $100 million investment from the private equity firm The Yucaipa Cos. The past year, says Schoen, was successful and educational. It “was above and beyond what was expected,” he adds.