Ep. 8 - Peter Bissell of Bissell Brothers Talks Pivoting Hard and Saving Jobs

Beer Edge

On this episode of the Beer Edge podcast, we speak with Bissell Brothers co-founder Peter Bissell about how COVID-19 has impacted the brewery and his lobster restaurant in Portland, Maine. Pete admits to being blind-sided by the pandemic news, as someone who does not closely follow the news. When the government forced his restaurant to close and limited public access to his brewery’s popular tap room, the company immediately pivoted to facilitating a contactless home delivery model that covers most of New England’s largest state. While his restaurant, Highroller, remains shuttered, Bissell Brothers remains active. Working at about 80 percent capacity, the brewery is cranking out old favorites, including new batches of Swish, and Pete hasn’t laid off a single worker.

For more information on the Beer Edge Podcast, or to check out Beer Edge: The Newsletter for Beer Professionals, follow us on Twitter @thebeeredge and subscribe to our beer industry focused newsletter. There is more information, articles, and engaging content at Beer Edge.

• Hosts: Andy Crouch and John Holl
• Guests: Peter Bissell
• Tags: beer, craft beer, Maine craft beer, COVID-19, Bissell Brothers Brewing