Originally Published by Comcast NBC Universal.
Robust internet and phone services are essential ingredients to the success of small businesses in a growing beer market.
Comcast Business today announced that several craft breweries throughout Connecticut have improved the customer experience and streamlined business operations with the help of Comcast Business solutions. Fast, reliable technology – including high-speed internet, voice, and business TV services – have enabled Black Hog Brewery and Charter Oak Brewing Co., among others, to make their mark on the growing local brewery landscape.
According to the 2017 Brewers Association State Craft Beer Sales & Production Statistics, Connecticut saw a 22 percent increase in craft breweries, leading to an influx of beer production totaling 166,848 barrels per year. The recent increase in operating craft breweries resulted in $718 million in economic impact across the state in 2016.
“Comcast Business is pleased to support the unprecedented growth in Connecticut’s craft brewery industry through business technology solutions customized for individual needs,” said Paul Savas, vice president of Comcast Business in Comcast’s Western New England Region.
Comcast Business has helped breweries, like Black Hog Brewery in Oxford, expand the capabilities of their taprooms to function more as communal gathering spaces outfitted with TVs, Wi-Fi, and other consumer-facing technology. Black Hog recently expanded to a 7,000 square-foot taproom and brewing facility that relies on high performance internet to engage guests and help operate business functions.
“Comcast Business has helped us keep our 100-person taproom operating at peak performance,” said Tom Sobocinski, partner at Black Hog. “Our operations require high-volume, bandwidth-intensive, cloudbased applications that demand the fast connectivity that Comcast Business Internet provides.”
Scott Vallely, founder and owner of Charter Oak Brewing Co. in Danbury shared similar sentiments, specifically noting the value of Wi-Fi Pro, a service that allows businesses to customize the splash page customers see when they connect to the network. “We rely heavily on word-of-mouth marketing to keep customers coming through the door,” said Vallely. “The easier it is for them to see and share our branding, upload their own photos and post reviews to social media straight from our taproom, the better.”
