Hardywood is the largest independently owned craft brewery in Virginia. We tell their story.
When Hardywood Park Craft Brewery approached us, they were already successful, but needed help managing their rapid growth. Co-founders Eric McKay and Patrick Murtaugh had built a brand that resonated locally and beyond. They sought strategic PR counsel to sustain their growth and ensure their message reached the right audience.
Hardywood’s rapid growth presented a unique set of challenges. As demand for their craft beers soared, so did the complexity of their marketing needs. They needed to ensure that local enthusiasm translated into lasting consumer relationships while also expanding their reach beyond the immediate community. This required a careful balance—nurturing their local fan base while creating a buzz on a national scale.
Establish and maintain a strong local presence while strategically acquiring national recognition. Implement a targeted PR campaign designed to increase media coverage, driving consumer interest and boosting sales. With this approach, Hardywood can successfully evolve from a local favorite to a nationally recognized brand in the craft beer industry.
Placing Hardywood in two back-to-back WSJ stories took a successful local craft brewery and put them on a national stage. Twice.
To secure quality press, we need a quality product, and Hardywood’s beer is world-class. Hardywood was already scoring high with BeerAdvocate, so we submitted samples to countless publications, almost always coming out on top and winning legions of fans by telling their story.
More than focusing on beer ratings, we wanted people to understand the soul of the brand and the craftsmanship behind the product. For us, this comes back to telling their story. Hardywood’s Gingerbread Stout is the stuff of legends, which we got Food & Wine to showcase with a sprawling feature; one of many secured over the years.
“Whether interviewing with a local reporter, or traveling to New York City for meetings with the most influential journalists in our industry, Golden Word makes sharing our story low-stress and fun. Golden Word is exceptionally talented at establishing relationships and forging opportunities with heavy-hitting media outlets, and the team is committed to delivering meaningful results in a professional manner.”
Eric McKay & Patrick Murtaugh
HARDYWOOD CO-FOUNDERS
When Hardywood opened a massive new destination brewery, we first needed locals to make this their new stomping ground, before even contemplating national. We secured significant local press coverage and coordinated special first access for area corporations, ensuring a steady flow of regular business.
We love a challenge. Hardywood had a particular desire for coverage in Garden & Gun. We seeded beer with the magazine’s team and visited their offices to share the story firsthand. As a result, Garden & Gun slated Hardywood in their Southern Craft Brewery Bracket, and we rallied their team and press to bring home the win! As testament to the relationship, Garden & Gun invited Hardywood to pour beer at their annual Made In The South Awards events.
When the Hardywood cofounders launched offshoot beer brand Suncrush, we were ready. We swept local press with the news, then quickly moved to seed with national writers – in person. Our NYC media tour resulted in multiple national stories, creating a halo effect of buzz and demand for the new line.
We’re looking forward to learning about your brand. Let’s tell great stories, together.
Let's Talk
Imagine a client partnership that fits so well, it runs successfully for over a decade? Now imagine shirts and polos and pants that fit just as well. That’s the story we’ve been telling about Ledbury – premium men’s fashion with a perfect fit.
Diageo-owned Blade and Bow Bourbon Whiskey approached Golden Word to represent the brand after partnering with Ledbury and Bulleit Bourbon. Our knowledge of their cultural community allowed us to easily amplify their brand positioning with media and influencers.
