By Shannon Maria Jones

Dell Poncet, Managing Editor of the Philadelphia Business Journal, recently sat down for a candid interview with Bill Cavaleski to learn more about the beginnings of Victory Brewing, their creative business philosophy, and changes on the horizon.

According to Poncet, Victory Brewing’s President, Bill Covaleski believes he has, “the best job in the world.”

Covaleski and Victory co-founder Ron Barchet have known each other since they were kids, and started brewing together after Covaleski stumbled upon his father’s homebrew kit.

How did you get from homebrew to Victory Brewing?

Brewing our own beers became so much more interesting to us than the jobs we had. I was an art director and Ron was a financial analyst. We were fortunate enough to gain apprenticeships with a German-trained brewmaster here in the U.S. at the Baltimore Brewing Co. That hands-on training provided a springboard to our academic studies in brewing.

What was the spark that made you want to “go pro?”

On New Year’s Eve of 1993, after opening our fourth big bottle of Belgian ale we asked our wives if they would support our notion to strike out on our own. They gave us three months to have a business plan and we were done in two and a half. Then the tough part of raising money came on…

How is the craft beer world different now than it was when you began in 1994?

This phenomenon of craft beer is well beyond what we envisioned while writing our business plan in 1994, for sure. America’s movement to foods of flavor and integrity has been the wind in craft beers’ sails. We are overjoyed to be able to make the fun and challenging beers we get to brew and have a growing legion of intelligent and passionate consumers pushing us for more and more flavor.

Now that Victory Brewing is growing so significantly, what other products does Victory make?

We just launched beer ice cream, and are on the verge of beer-infused cheese spreads, pasta, and beef jerky.

You have what many people would consider the dream job. To what do you credit your success?

My wife tells that the only reason I’m invited places is because I bring beer, so this is not an ego trip. I think our success lies in a combination of luck, hard work, and our continual drive to be creative.

Where do you see Victory in 10 years?

Our plans for Victory are great, but all within the realm of possibility. Interest in new American beers is growing steadily internationally and we are in the thick of those export possibilities. Closer to home, our enlightened consumers will guide us to growing Victory to its natural size. That will be a size that supplies endless streams of exciting beers and supports countless careers and the families of those who have driven this company forward from within. This extended community of consumers and collaborators will be our legacy.

Read the entire Covaleski interview in Philadelphia Business Journal here.

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Shannon Maria Jones is co-founder of Dashing Rogue, LLC, “bringing back the dinner party” by providing customizable beer pairing dinners in your home. She hosts the weekly podcast, “Beer Mistress’s Microbrew Review” available on iTunes.  Visit www.BeerMistress.com for her beer reviews, pairing tips, and recipes.

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Top photo courtesy of Philadelphia Business Journal