The tale of the conception and founding of the Land of the Sky Brewing Company provides a window into the passion-driven world of craft beer generation at both the home and commercial levels.
LOTS BREWING centers on a Millennial trio’s gradual transformation from young idealists with Big Dreams, but little real-world experience, into realist small business operators with significant challenges and major responsibilities.
The pilot episode (which we would love to send you) sets up the series by establishing the dynamic between the main characters: idea man Jim; trust fund brewer Tex; directionless girl next door Meghan; no-nonsense Thomas; and well-meaning yet caustic Maura.
Taking place in a short span on either side of Meghan’s long-time-coming graduation from UNC Asheville, Episode 1 (a.k.a. the 90-minute made for TV movie pilot) focuses on the hot-button topic of whether or not to the would-be founders of the Land Of The Sky Brewco should solicit a start-up loan from the Spencer twins wealthy, Bostonian parents.
Future episodes range far and wide as each character’s personal and professional life unfolds to reveal their strengths, weaknesses, virtues, and shortcomings.
But no matter how far afield the plot lines take us — from the banking institutions of the Cayman Islands, to the elite college campuses of Cambridge, to the deepest recesses of off-the-grid Pisgah National Forest, to the jet-setting country club scene of the Boston suburbs — we always return the boys’ East Asheville couch. There we will invariably find our lovably flawed, stuck-in-neutral Founders bantering about life (and how to live it), talking a bunch of smack (while playing endless video games), taking numerous bingers, and knocking back more than a few bottles of their latest home-brewed elixir.
The story begins…
In the idyllic town of Asheville, NC a young couple is faced with life after college. Meghan wants to help her boyfriend, Jim, and his roommate, Tex (who is also her twin brother and really named Michael) take their home beer brewing hobby to the next level. Her plan is to secure a loan from her wealthy parents, but Jim is reluctant to agree. Tired of being an under-employed waiter, the idea of opening a craft beer microbrewery is certainly appealing to him, but he fears that the money would definitely come with strings attached and probably cause trouble for his romantic relationship.
A Moment in Time In A Place Worth Knowing About
The year is 2016 and craft beer is all the rage. As a result, there are many culturally relevant storytelling opportunities for the show due to the uptick in the popularity of craft brews and the associated culture. The regular sets would include the couple’s homes; local bars and restaurants; and the brewery itself.
The themes explored include young people coming into their own; couples working out their relationship particulars, both at home and the office; struggling with work/life balance; the love/hate sibling dynamic; fish out of water adjustments; hipster/townie/beer nerd culture; the foibles of academia; and the joys, trials and tribulations of business ownership.
Music Matters A Lot At LOTS
One might fairly wonder: Is the Land of the Sky Brewing Company a craft brewery with a music venue attached, or a music venue with a craft brewery attached?
The answer really depends on which entrance you use since it’s both! Live music being performed on the show would be a central focus of the series over time. In fact, as a way to distinguish the brewery from others in the area, the Founders decide to double the size of the building an incorporate a full-sized stage with professional sound and lighting. (More to come on the venue in time.)