Buzzed Beetle- From Fields of Blooms to Fantastic Flavors

Simone Lange, owner of Buzzed Beetle, is no stranger to entrepreneurship. As a professional photographer, she dedicated over two decades to her first business. Simone captured magical family moments, impressive sports achievements, and cherished school memories, bound forever in film. However, Simone’s entrepreneurial journey didn’t end there.

The Challenge

Buzzed Beetle had humble beginnings, with home wine tastings and flavor experiments. Simone began her home-brewing journey during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeking local resources for unique flavors. Her interest in brewing grew while hiking, where she noticed the abundance of fireweed around her. This tall, slender plant, recognized by its vibrant pink hue, has been harvested by Alaskans for generations. The fireweed flowers have a mild, sweet flavor, making them popular for adding to salads and creating honey, tea, or jams with light, sweet notes. Additionally, the stalk of the plant is rich in vitamins A and C and has a taste reminiscent of asparagus, making it a versatile and wholesome choice for locals.

Captivated by Alaska’s fresh and unique ingredients, Simone began collecting fireweed to make wine. Then, she progressed to gathering dandelions to add additional flavor notes. Simone was eager to showcase these distinctive flavor profiles through her homemade wine brews. With a focus on organic materials and enhancing natural flavors, she allowed her palate to guide her creations. Simone says,

“I noticed a lot of fireweeds and was sure we could do something with it because it’s used in honey, and I came across a fireweed wine. That started the journey. Then I did dandelions and thought I’d do a few more flavors and wines, and it just exploded. We ended up with like 45 different flavors!”

During a taste test with friends, one of them challenged Simone with an exciting idea: why not turn Simone’s passion for winemaking into a full-fledged business? Intrigued by the prospect and with her burgeoning hobby of producing a delightful array of products, Simone decided to take the plunge. As luck would have it, one of the friends had a connection with the owner of a local brewery.

Eager to share her creations, Simone brought some of her beverage samples to the meeting. To her delight, the brewery owner was impressed by her unique flavors and proposed a collaboration. This partnership not only allowed Simone to showcase her enticing drinks in a public setting but also opened doors for her to further refine her craft. With each sip, she was one step closer to turning her hobby into a lucrative business.

The Chance

With her flavored wines available in a commercial setting, Simone embarked on an exciting journey of apprenticing to expand her skills. This hands-on experience was a game-changer for her. Immersed in the vibrant world of brewing, she delved into the artistry behind the process. With each day, she acquired valuable skills and insights that could only be learned in the thick of it, deepening her passion and knowledge in more ways than ever.

While honing her skills in the apprenticeship, an opportunity was coming, and another door was about to swing wide open for Simone. When a local brewer decided it was time to turn off their system for good and shut down, it cleared the way for a brewery of her own. Not only did this closure lead to open space for Buzzed Beetle to grow and expand, but it was also at a decreased cost than originally anticipated. This helped her to keep her monetary footprint of entrepreneurship smaller and keep things more affordable during those vital initial stages.

The Beetle

As Simone’s business began to flourish, her company name was also starting to morph. One day, while contemplating her move, an unexpected guest arrived: a tiny black beetle that had made its way to some spilled liquid from a keg. Simone has a soft spot for little creatures. Normally, if she came across a bug, she would gently catch it and release it back into the outdoors. Something was different this time.  With surprising determination, this little one drank every last drop of the spillage. As she escorted her little guest outside, she noticed the beetle wobbling slightly, as if it, too, had indulged a bit too much.

Thanks to that spirited little beetle, Simone initially named her company “Drunken Beetle.” It had a quirky charm, but when some formalities arose, she realized it wasn’t the best choice for her budding business. So, with a creative twist, she settled on “Buzzed Beetle,” a name that captured the essence of fun while being more fitting for her vision. Simone says with a laugh,

“I changed it to buzzed. It means kind of the same thing, so that’s where Buzzed Beetle came from.”

The Buzz

Buzzed Beetle stands as a prime example of adaptability in the ever-evolving business landscape. Initially established with a focus on crafting refreshing hard spritzer and seltzer beverages, the company has seen a shift in its strategy. Simone has taken on these challenges with remarkable skill and insight. She has a keen understanding of market trends along with flavor profiles. Staying flexible as a business owner has allowed her to pivot the business in an exciting direction. While she eagerly anticipates full licensing for alcoholic beverage sales, Simone has been innovative. She is crafting her growing business through mocktails, gourmet sodas, and soft seltzers. This dynamic approach ensures that Buzzed Beetle continues to thrive and grow, showcasing the power of resilience and creativity in entrepreneurship.

Through her unique branded refreshments, Simone has put the focus back on organic elements and locally sourced produce. As someone who suffers from food allergies, Simone has created a vast range of products for something for everyone to enjoy.  With over 20 flavors carefully selected and expertly crafted into artisanal beverages, Buzzed Beetle is just starting to spread its wings.

Flavors and variants include, but are not limited to:

Artic Fizz Gourmet Sodas: Gourmet Soda flavors in cans and on tap at the brewery

• Orange (Fresh squeezed oranges with hints of vanilla, sugar, and carbonated water)
• Lilacs & Blueberries (Lilacs & Blueberries with a hint of lemon, sugar, and carbonated water)
• Lemon & Lime Sparkling Water (fresh squeezed lemon & lime juice, and distilled carbonated water)
• It’s Dandelion Time (Dandelion petals, lemon juice, sugar, and filtered carbonated water)
• Root Beer (Licorice Bean, Vanilla Bean, cherry extract, spearmint extract, sugar, and filtered carbonated water)

Bottled Mocktails: Sold at Brown Jug locations at 14 locations

• Apple Mojito (Apple flavors with a hint of mint)
• Berry Chill (All-natural blend of fruits)
• Mango Tango (On the sweeter side)
• Mango Heatwave (Sweet with a bit of heat)

Bearly Buzzed: Soft Seltzers with a .04% Alcohol by Volume (ABV) are the non-octane version of Buzzed Beetle’s soon-to-come Hard Seltzer. Mocktails will also be carried under this brand. Not all flavors are listed.

• Cinnamon
• The Spruce Tip
• Dragon Fruit Guava Tini
• White Chocolate Raspberry Tini
• Essence of An Old Fashioned

In addition to these products, sold both in-house at the brewery and commercially, Buzzed Beetle offers specialty services, including beverage catering, baby and bridal showers, custom mocktail making and pairing services, location rental, and a favorite among customers, specialized lactose-free ice cream floats.

The Impact of Support

As Buzzed Beetle expanded, the need for funding to support that growth increased. Facing challenges with traditional funding methods, Simone began exploring alternative options. During her search, she discovered Business Impact NW, a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) dedicated to assisting small businesses with free business coaching, valuable resources, and funding assistance. Simone says,

“Traditional funding was just not something that I could do, so I called Business Impact NW, and they said yes, they could help, and then we sort of went through all the steps.”

As Simone embarked on her journey with Business Impact NW, she had the opportunity to work with Senior Loan Officer, Theo Ransum. With his roots in Alaksa, Theo brings an insider’s perspective to the unique challenges and opportunities of the Alaska business landscape. Working closely together, they revitalized her business plan and crafted an extensive spreadsheet that exceeded her expectations, equipping Simone with the tools she needed to take her business to new heights. Their collaboration not only refined her strategy but also helped her prepare for funding and Buzzed Beetle’s future objectives. Simone recalls,

“I had my cute little spreadsheet, but it was nothing compared to what Theo had given me. His projected out for 3 years, 5 years, and on.” She adds, “I was getting all that information and really looking at it as a full-on business, with everything listed that was involved. That was very helpful in making everything flow and make sense.”

On working with Simone, Theo bragged about her tenacity, stating,

“Simone was great to work with; VBOC helped get her goals and ideas on paper and she had all the information ready to go to make the loan decision process easier.

Flying Strong

The future of Buzzed Beetle looks promising, reflecting the dedication and community spirit that define Alaskan entrepreneurship. With her popular brewery making a name for itself with her delicious all-natural, organic, and highly flavorful mocktails, she looks forward to expanding on her products. Simone already has two new flavor profiles, a merger between wine and tea, that are up and coming. She has a red blend that has the essence and flavor of wine but the make-up of tea, and a white, lighter, and sweeter blend that is perfect to pair with desserts.

Having just wrapped up the Alaska Craft Brew & Barley Wine Festival, Buzzed Beetle’s growth is evident within the community. Customers can find Buzzed Beetle products at various locations throughout Alaska, including retail stores, restaurants, and festivals. As her business continues to scale, Simone looks forward to a supportive and collaborative journey with Business Impact NW. Buzzed Beetle is more than just a brand; it’s a reflection of community spirit, creativity, and the unique flavors of Alaska.

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