Brewer to Brewer: Averie Swanson and Blake Tyers (Ep. 30)
Sep 14, 2023
auto_awesome
Averie Swanson of Keeping Together interviews Blake Tyers of Creature Comforts Brewing Company. They discuss the importance of beer journalism, personal journeys in the industry, creating value and growth within a brewery, transitioning and artistic pursuits, brewing as a symphonic expression, the state of the brewing industry, Gen Z drinking habits and innovation, types of beers, and finding joy in connecting with others.
Curiosity is crucial in brewing, embracing both the science and art leads to continuous learning.
Transitioning from a full-time production role to a leadership position requires finding value beyond being identified solely as a brewer.
Breweries should focus on creating unique experiences and connections with consumers by engaging them directly in tasting rooms.
Deep dives
The Importance of Embracing Curiosity in Beer Making
Blake Tires, Senior Director of Curiosity at Creature Comfort Brewery, discusses the role of curiosity in beer making. He emphasizes the importance of embracing both the science and art of brewing, and how curiosity leads to continuous learning and growth. Tires shares his personal journey in the beer industry, from being indoctrinated into the beer culture by his family to becoming a passionate homebrewer and ultimately joining Creature Comfort Brewing. He highlights the significance of remaining curious about others, fostering empathy, and creating a culture of connection through beer.
Transitioning from Brewer to Director of Curiosity
Tires elaborates on his transition from being a full-time production employee to his current role as the Director of Curiosity at Creature Comfort Brewing. He acknowledges the physical and mental demands of working in production and the challenges brewers face when considering long-term career paths. Tires reflects on the psychological aspects of this transition, including the need to find value beyond being identified solely as a brewer. He emphasizes the rewards of becoming a leader, inspiring others, and having a positive influence on the culture and development of the brewery.
The Future of the Beer Industry: Cultivating Curiosity and Balance
Tires shares his thoughts on the future of the beer industry, emphasizing the importance of balance and curiosity. He recognizes the industry's rapid growth and the need for brewers to be realistic about their target audience and how to engage them effectively. Tires believes that direct consumer engagement in tasting rooms allows for indoctrinating customers and evangelizing specific flavors and styles. He predicts a pendulum shift in beer trends, with flavors evolving and exploring different pockets of taste. Tires encourages breweries to focus on creating unique experiences and fostering connections with consumers.
Transitioning Beyond Brewing and Finding Creative Outlets
The podcast episode explores the journey of the guest, Blake, as he transitions from being solely focused on brewing to finding new creative outlets. Blake emphasizes the importance of allowing grace for oneself during this challenging transition. He shares his realization that brewing was his main creative outlet for many years, and now he is actively seeking other outlets such as playing music. This shift allows him to find a healthy balance where his job doesn't have to define his entire identity.
The Importance of Finding Value and Creating Positions in the Beer Industry
In this podcast episode, Blake discusses the misconception that being a rock star brewer is the only way to contribute significantly in the beer industry. He stresses the importance of creating positions that further the interests of both the company and the individual. Blake highlights the value of finding positions that foster growth and enable brewers to express their creativity. This perspective is particularly relevant for brewers who are considering their career paths after years of manual labor.
Firsd Tea Firsd Tea is a proud sponsor of the Brewer to Brewer podcast. Discover the advantage of using new and unique ingredients, like lemon myrtle or lapsang souchong. Firsd Tea has been working with brewers to introduce distinctive, high-quality botanicals for innovative craft beers. They focus on being DIRECT, FLEXIBLE, and FAST. You can find out more about Firsd Tea’s collaborations with brewers and tea ingredients by visiting blog.firsdtea.com.
