[majorvices]

Call me a glutton for punishment but I have accepted the Head Brewer position at Rocket Republic Brewing in Madison, AL. This brewery needs big time help, and not sure I can save it (the dummies weren't even cleaning the draft lines because no one could figure out whose job it was. Pretty ridiculous.) But I'm going to give it my best shot. Their beers aren't all bad. But there has been very little QC and a healthy dose of "don't give a damn" so, as you can imagine, a solid recipe for failure.

This will be my third head brewing position in as many years (the first one being at the brewery I founded but can't get bought out of, the second died because of Covid). I'm hoping to make this one stick for a few years. Otherwise -- I'm out for good.

Just when I started to enjoy homebrewing again.

[BrewBama]

I will say they do need help. I hope they’ll pick up what you lay down.



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[beerphilmcd]

Good luck! Culture and give-a-crap along with financials and market mean prosperity bs death of a business. Sounds like they need front of house leadership as much as anything! Good luck. I have a business plan for a small chain of across the bar breweries, had my first investor and others joining up when COVID hit and we tabled it… thankfully!


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[majorvices]

Thanks. Yeah, I have been cleaning the lines so the beers are a lot better! But, they are using old hops (isovaleric cheese bombs). The former brewer is a personal friend of mine so, like, I take this job with the knowledge that he thinks I screwed him over but the owner came to me. It's unfortunate because I only wanted to work at a brewery to access to cheap grain! But the entire business is on the brink of failure and the owner knows I have done this before ... he didn't beg me. But, ok, he did kinda beg me.

Regardless, I'm excited to have a new project. Love to get some local guys in for a sensory sometime.

[tommymorris]

Thanks. Yeah, I have been cleaning the lines so the beers are a lot better! But, they are using old hops (isovaleric cheese bombs). The former brewer is a personal friend of mine so, like, I take this job with the knowledge that he thinks I screwed him over but the owner came to me. It's unfortunate because I only wanted to work at a brewery to access to cheap grain! But the entire business is on the brink of failure and the owner knows I have done this before ... he didn't beg me. But, ok, he did kinda beg me.

Regardless, I'm excited to have a new project. Love to get some local guys in for a sensory sometime.

Maybe I need to make a trip to the tap room. What should I order? What is good?

[majorvices]

Thanks. Yeah, I have been cleaning the lines so the beers are a lot better! But, they are using old hops (isovaleric cheese bombs). The former brewer is a personal friend of mine so, like, I take this job with the knowledge that he thinks I screwed him over but the owner came to me. It's unfortunate because I only wanted to work at a brewery to access to cheap grain! But the entire business is on the brink of failure and the owner knows I have done this before ... he didn't beg me. But, ok, he did kinda beg me.

Regardless, I'm excited to have a new project. Love to get some local guys in for a sensory sometime.

Maybe I need to make a trip to the tap room. What should I order? What is good?

The Stratospheric Collision is a really good Hazy IPA. The Six iron Pils is also good. Aside from that, not much else. I'm working on fixing that but its gonna take a minute.

[Megary]

“Just when i thought I was out, they pull me back in.”
- Majorvices Corleone

[majorvices]

“Just when i thought I was out, they pull me back in.”
- Majorvices Corleone

Bwahahahaha!

[RC]

It sounds like you're getting on the Titanic. You might be able to shovel coal into the boilers faster and better than the previous shoveler, but the captain is the problem. Said another way, a company's culture filters down from the top. If the owner(s) has that kind attitude, that would be a huge red flag to me not to work there. An owner like that usually doesn't like other people telling them what they need to do to right the ship.

I wish you luck, though.

[majorvices]

It sounds like you're getting on the Titanic. You might be able to shovel coal into the boilers faster and better than the previous shoveler, but the captain is the problem. Said another way, a company's culture filters down from the top. If the owner(s) has that kind attitude, that would be a huge red flag to me not to work there. An owner like that usually doesn't like other people telling them what they need to do to right the ship.

I wish you luck, though.

You aren't wrong. I know the original founder/head brewer who was forced out similar to me at my brewery (difference is they actually gave him money).

I'm giving it 6 months. I'm in a unique position where I'm "sorta" retired. So while I want to make this succeed it won't hurt me financially if it doesn't.

It's a sweet brewery: 15 bbl Premiere Stainless (capable of 20) and a decent canning line. And I am in control of hiring staff and any other changes I want.Basically full control. Could be a sweet gig if I can pull them out of their current circumstances. But, yeah, ownership is part of the problem. The owner approached me and asked if I wanted to invest. LOL no f'n way dude.

[chinaski]

That is mighty brave of you to dive back in!  So sad to hear that they had the funds and organization to get started but couldn't attend to the little things like beer lines.  Even it they fail, I'll bet that you educate some folks that might continue on in the industry and learn to do things right.  Good luck!

[majorvices]

They've been around for a while, actually. Since at least 2014, maybe earlier. It was more of a lackadaisical culture that got them in this mess (coupled with a "not-my-job" mentality). The owner wants to rescue at "all costs" so I think we can pull through. I'm actually pretty excited.

Now if I could just get that grain order to arrive that is days behind delivery.   

[denny]

You have my most sincere condolences. 😂

[majorvices]

You have my most sincere condolences. 😂

Hahahahaha! There is a paycheck involved so it's not a total loss!

[BrewNerd]

Holy crap Vice...

You're a braver man than I.

I can understand the desire to "come to the rescue" and be the one that turns everything around. Glad to hear that you're cautiously wading into a scenario like that and not blinded by ego.

Sounds like a bit of a "Roadhouse" situation if you catch my drift. Be nice until it's time not to be nice...