Our Services

Expert consulting to guide you through every step of your new or expanding cider endeavor.

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Business

In-depth insight into the practical needs of cidery start-up and expansion.

  • Business Plan Development

  • Financial Forecasting with Customizable Pro Forma

  • Compliance & Tax Reporting

  • Brand Development & Positioning

  • Navigating Distribution

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Facility

Building out your cider space the right way.

  • Facility Planning, Design, & Buildout

  • Resources for Architects and GCs

  • Equipment Plans and Sourcing

  • Glycol Piping, Custom Tank Design

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Fermentation

Education, troubleshooting, and expertise on creating quality cider.

  • Recipe Development & Ingredient Sourcing

  • Integrated Production Plans

  • Standard Operating Procedures

  • Fermentation Troubleshooting

  • Cidermaker Training

 

Awesome right? Let’s talk about how our cider consulting can set you up for success.

 

Who We Are

Brown Hat was created in 2019 by Brent Miles-Wagner to provide an expert consulting resource for the cider industry.

Brent was the founding Head Cidermaker at Seattle Cider Company, where he wrote the business plan, developed their lineup of innovative and award-winning ciders, managed their cider production from inception in 2013 to 20,000 barrels in 2016. 

In 2017 Brent became Head Cidermaker at Sly Clyde Ciderworks in Hampton, VA. He built their cidery from the ground up: developing and producing all ciders, planning production and tap room buildout, and directing the graphic designer on all brand development and packaging.

His ciders have won gold medals at multiple competitions, and he has been a lecturer at the Oregon State University Craft Cider Startup Workshop and a presenter at CiderCon. He co-taught a weeklong cider production course for the Swedish Juice and Cider Producers Association in 2024.

Brent received a Master’s in Entrepreneurship from Uppsala University in 2024, writing his thesis on the challenges facing Swedish craft cideries. He is currently living in Sweden and continuing to consult with clients worldwide.

Press

Stories tell it best. Read about the adventures we’ve been on and the successes we’ve encountered along our journey in the craft beverage industry.

 
 

Let’s Do Something Great Together

We’d love to hear from you. Please fill out the form below, tell us as much information as you can about your goals and why you’re looking for cider consulting and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours.