New Belgium: Rapid growth under new CEO

Construction crews have toiled outside Christine Perich’s office ever since she became New Belgium Brewing Co. CEO nearly a year ago.

She's grown accustomed to the din of that work, a constant reminder of the Fort Collins-based brewery's evolution in its 25th year.

“There’s been a lot of ‘pinch me’ moments along the way,” said Perich, the former chief operating officer who became New Belgium's top executive last October.

During her tenure, the country’s fourth-largest craft brewery started renovations on its Fort Collins headquarters and opened an East Coast brewery in Asheville, N.C. — an expansion Perich has long overseen.

New Belgium's staff has grown from 650 this time last year to 780 today, with 120 employees based in Asheville.

Brewery leaders also explored a potential sale during the year, an option since taken off the table.

Through it all, Perich has grown into a role that has taken her farther — literally — than New Belgium's founders could have imagined 25 years ago.

“I’ve become a really good traveler," Perich said. "I wasn’t in the beginning."

BEER NEWS:  Windsor makes it official with High Hops Brewery

When not traveling to lead New Belgium's nationwide expansion, Perich still likes to bike to work, somewhat of a calling card for New Belgium employees. She travels the same paths where you can occasionally find her predecessor, Kim Jordan, who has transitioned from CEO to executive chair of the brewery's board of directors.

“After 25 years, it is a little different,” said Jordan, who lauded the work done by Perich. “I’ve been plenty busy. I’m still pretty involved in brand oversight.

Jordan is no longer working full-time hours. Now that Asheville has launched, she's looking to gradually cut back even more.

“We’re in good hands,” said Jordan, whose sons Nick and Zac work at New Belgium.

Since Perich took over, there have been subtle additions to New Belgium's beer portfolio: new releases in the Lips of Faith and Hop Kitchen series, along with a Fat Tire 25th anniversary collaboration series. New Belgium is also set to release a collaboration cookie dough beer with Ben & Jerry's this fall.

CRAFT BEER:  Brewing industry continues to boom in Fort Collins

The brewery's footprint is growing along with its product line.

Today, New Belgium is distributed to 45 states. Oklahoma and a handful of New England states remain off New Belgium's map, but the brewery has drawn up plans to enter each market.

“We put so much energy into Asheville, now it is about looking at New Belgium holistically and rolling out our national footprint,” Perich said.

Perich, who graduated from both Rocky Mountain High School and Colorado State University, once audited New Belgium's books while working with a different firm.

But after discovering the brewery's employee perks — employee ownership, financial transparency, an expenses-paid trip to Belgium after five years and free weekly allotment of beer, among others — she was persuaded to apply.

She started as a financial controller in 2000. Along her ascension to CEO, Perich led New Belgium's 2013 transition to a full Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) model and brought in Dr. Patti Palagi as the staff family doctor, who treats New Belgium staff and their families without any co-pay.

Perich finds herself occasionally mimicking her father, a former Hewlett-Packard manager who would regularly walk through the plant to chat with employees from all departments. She also now leads the annual Belgium retreat, often getting to know staff members with whom she doesn't have a lot of direct contact.

"It is important to me to talk with the people who are actually doing the work every day to figure out what's working and what can be improved," Perich said.

RANKINGS:  Here's the top rated-beer from each FoCo brewery

Earlier this summer, the entire staff from both Fort Collins and Asheville met for a company retreat. It is the first of many planned annual meetings to improve cohesion between both plants.

And while Jordan has stepped into a smaller role, her protege is focused on keeping her vision for workplace culture.

“The biggest wonderful surprise (of New Belgium’s success) is how many opportunities there are to be pioneers and think differently about business,” Jordan said. “We make choices that are consistent with what we think matters.”

Follow Jake Laxen on Twitter and Instagram @jacoblaxen.

Tour de Fat

New Belgium Brewing Co. has a lot to celebrate this year during its annual bike parade held Saturday in Fort Collins. Here's what you need to know:

What: Bike parade and celebration featuring beer, food and live music.

When: Saturday (registration begins at 9 a.m. and the bike tour begins at 10 a.m.)

Where: Fort Collins Civic Center Park

Admission: Free. (Beers are $5 each.)

More information: Read Thursday's feature in Cache and visit www.facebook.com/tourdefat