Ep. 54 - Mark Rieth: Building, Selling & Buying Back Atwater Brewery - Lessons in Entrepreneurship

In Episode 54 of **The Enthusiastic Life Podcast**, Brendan sits down with Detroit entrepreneur **Mark Rieth**, the businessman behind Atwater Brewery, FÜL Beverage, and the revival of Velvet Peanut Butter, for a fascinating conversation about entrepreneurship, taking risks, building great brands, and betting on yourself. Mark's entrepreneurial journey began with a simple homebrewing kit and a passion for making beer. After building a career in the automotive industry, he decided to take a chance on himself, eventually purchasing Detroit's Atwater Brewery and transforming it into one of Michigan's most successful craft beer brands. In 2020, Mark sold Atwater to Molson Coors. Six years later, his journey came full circle when he had the opportunity to buy back the brewery he helped build. But Mark's story doesn't end with beer. He shares his experiences launching a functional beverage company, bringing the historic Detroit brand Velvet Peanut Butter back to life, and discovering what it really takes to build a brand that people connect with. Brendan and Mark also explore the biggest mistakes entrepreneurs should avoid, lessons learned through decades of business ownership, and Mark's passion for Michigan State University, where he serves on the Broad College of Business Advisory Board. **In this episode:** - From homebrewing as a hobby to owning Atwater Brewery - Leaving the automotive industry to pursue entrepreneurship - Growing Atwater and selling it to Molson Coors - The full-circle opportunity to buy back Atwater six years later - Launching FÜL Beverage - Reviving Detroit's iconic Velvet Peanut Butter - What separates great brands from average ones - The biggest pitfalls entrepreneurs should avoid - Taking risks, learning from mistakes, and betting on yourself - Mark's connection to Michigan State University and the Broad College of Business **The Enthusiastic Life Podcast** Hosted by Brendan Walsh Produced by Ryan Dewan | Wave Media Available on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms.