Never losing focus

I don't know, is it a cliche to say that 'it's just about the beer'? Now, I know that marketing is important, but I've always believed that if you made a good product, you will reach the folks who matter most. Yes, I said it ... PRODUCT. All manufacturers make a product. Is it art?, passion? or maybe creative expression? Maybe, but in the end we're still trying to sell something. And sometimes the quality and perception is just not enough.

We recently had a restaurant take our beer off their tap selection because, get this, our marker/handle was too sophomoric and cheap-looking. Do people really judge the merits of a beer by the cool-looking tap-marker or label on the bottle? Well, I don't know or care; I never got into this business to make a lot of money, my focus is and will always be on the beer and the people who appreciate it. I don't make the beers I brew just to be different, I make them because I have to. It's what I do. Heavyweight is not about gimmickry, it's about brewing beers that expand the wonder and boundaries of style and definition. Sometimes, the focus of the beer supersedes the availability of a cool tap-marker, sorry Witherspoon Grill.

Folks tell me I should make a regular Pils or Pale ale to drive most of our sales. From what other breweries do, this seems to make a lot of business sense. I realize that after six plus years at Heavyweight, I have very little business sense. I shamefully admit that I am only a brewer, brewing what I want (and hoping that others want it too), and when I want and above everything else .... never losing focus.