Every brewery has a story that starts long before the first pint is poured. What inspired the three of you to take the leap and create Watchtower Brewing, and what did each of you bring to the partnership?
I have known Phil Rhudy of Independent Brewing for years -- our kids grew up together. Since I was about 16 years old, I had an interest in doing something in the hospitality industry. Being self-employed, I’d help Phil whenever I could during the building of IB Co. On a whim, I started home brewing in 2010 with a Mr. Beer kit. I enjoyed it, and after just two batches, I upgraded to doing five-gallon extract batches, and I continued to grow from there. One day, shortly after Phil opened, he smacked me on the shoulder and said: “You should start a brewery.” I didn’t realize he was (likely) joking at the time, so I thought about it for a few weeks and went back to talk with him. He gave me the best advice I ever received over this entire endeavor. He said to me, “You’re not ready. You have a lot to learn. Go study, I’ll help you.” I did and he did. I ended up creating a brewery in my home that was 300 [square feet], with a 500 [square foot] taproom. I had eight beers on tap at all times. The brewery was as close to professional as I could afford to do. I did tastings with different groups of people -- professional brewers/BJCP judges, knowledgeable beer fans, and “Joe drinkers”. I also participated in several of the Craft Beer festivals that Mike held at Friendship Liquors with great response. So, I brought a passion for brewing and a strong desire to build community.
The backgrounds of the two other owners, and yours, span brewing, entertainment, finance, and marketing. How have all of your different experiences complemented one another, and why has that combination been such a strength for the brewery?
Having a group of people with a common passion who have strong abilities in different aspects of what is needed creates a winning team. We all have a very strong passion for what we are doing, and each is willing to do what it takes to make it work. We have a sign above the office door that Lynn, head of Community Outreach, got for me that says “Figure It Out”. I would say that all the time because that is what is needed -- we all have to figure things out. And that is the beauty of our team. We’ll do what is needed even if it’s not in our “lane”.
What's the story behind the name "Watchtower"?
While sitting at the dining room table coming up with names, the name Watchtower was presented. I stopped it right there and said: “That’s it -- we’re guiding people to good beer.” That has morphed more toward building community, but that is how it started.
What made Aberdeen feel like the right fit, and what role did you hope the brewery would play in the city's continued growth and revitalization?
Aberdeen has a strong position for building a business. They have the highest economic growth in the county, the per capita income is quite high, and, from a brewery standpoint, there was not one there. All those things made sense to me. I came to learn that the city was very eager to have a brewery, which made conversations easy. On top of that, the local government, led by the mayor, gets things done. I saw projects get completed, not just paper move around. The city is in a growth state, and it is ripe for business. We are actively helping with that growth. We believe in the city and the community here.
From the beginning, you've emphasized creating a place where people can gather. What does community mean to you, and how has the response from local patrons lived up to or exceeded your expectations?
Yes, building community is a core pillar for our business. We’ve made so many friends in the community because of the brewery, and people in the community have made friends that they likely would not have made otherwise. Seeing people smile is a huge deal for me. We’ve worked really hard to make Watchtower a place people can call home -- a safe harbor, if you will, to keep in context with our name.
How would you describe your approach to brewing, and what do you hope people experience when they try a Watchtower beer for the first time?
Quality first and foremost. The product has to be good. It’s funny -- people have asked me over the years, “What kind of beer are you going to make?” The answer has always been “What the people want.” I’m no longer brewing for myself; I’m brewing for -- you guessed it -- the community. I want a new patron to savor the beer they have chosen -- and, even if they try something that is not what they would normally drink say, yeah, I can tell this is quality.
For those who haven’t visited yet, what can visitors expect when they visit the brewery?
Warmth -- meaning, a comforting feel. You’ll be greeted with a smile. You’ll be presented with genuine interest in you as a person. Cleanliness. Our place is clean. We’ve had numerous people compliment us on how clean our bathrooms are. On the weekends, they can expect quality music.
Looking ahead, what excites you most about the future of Watchtower Brewing?
Honestly? The growth of the city as a whole. We love this place, and it deserves the love it’s getting. As the exciting new businesses come online, everything will grow. We want to continue to bring new people into town, host energizing events, and see even more smiles.
We’ve made so many friends in the community because of the brewery, and people in the community have made friends that they likely would not have made otherwise. Seeing people smile is a huge deal for me. We’ve worked really hard to make Watchtower a place people can call home -- a safe harbor, if you will, to keep in context with our name.