Too often, we don’t take the time to reflect upon significant milestones like an anniversary. It has been a very successful 15 years for Nebraska Brewing Company! I got to spend the afternoon with the owners, Paul and Kim Kavulak, their sons Connor and Dylan, and brewers - Tyson Arp and Tony Munich. The group reminisced about many memories over the years; it was an absolute blast to hear them tell the stories!
How long did it take to sink in that you own a brewery?
Paul said, “It took me about 1 1/2 to 2 years. Over that period, it was all about brewing the beer. As the business started to grow, there came that point where I had to stop brewing to focus on many of the business activities like sales, regulations, etc. That was the moment that hit me - I own a brewery.”
Kim replied, “There is still a bit of shock almost every day, especially when I look at what we have built over the last fifteen years. We just wanted to make great beer and create an environment like the tv show Cheers.”
I wonder who has been Norm for Nebraska Brewing Company over the past 15 years? A personal goal as I digress.
If you think back to 2007, Nebraska Brewing Company was the fifth brewery to open in the craft beer space in Nebraska. A few had started in the late 90s, like Empyrean Brewing Co., Thunderhead Brewing Company, and Upstream Brewing Company. I remember in the late 1990s; I didn’t think much about Nebraska as a state for craft beer. At the time, it was more about beer from states like Colorado.
Nebraska Brewing Company had their work cut out to get craft beer drinkers to gravitate to local craft beer and persuade non-craft drinkers to enjoy their beer. Paul and Kim talked about the importance of beer festivals in the beginning. In 2008, they began an annual event called the Great Nebraska Beerfest. The festival's early years were about educating people in the area about craft beer. Many out-of-state breweries would attend the event helping promote different styles of craft beer. I remember how special my first Great Nebraska Beerfest was. I met many brewers that day and greatly appreciated what it takes to make good craft beer!
Kim and Paul were passionate about educating the state's consumers and our state government. The couple has been highly involved over the years in working with the legislature to make things as easy as possible to allow craft beer to continue to grow in Nebraska.
Kim described the early days had them constantly learning about the rules and regulations of running the business. It was a school of hard knocks trying to get your product on the market. No one ever told you about the government agency called the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) that had to approve your beer labels. This is just one example of many that they had to endure. The couple, over the years, has shared their experiences and helped new breweries not have to go through all the pain they did. This generosity is just one of the reasons why the Nebraska craft beer community is so great!
How did you know how to market your beer?
Paul talked about the importance of making people aware of your product. Beyond beer festivals, there was one extraordinary thing Nebraska Brewing Company started to do - make barrel-aged beer. Paul said they were the first in the United States to barrel age a craft beer in a wine barrel for the notes of the wine. They would then go on to develop a great line that included Black Betty, Mélange A Trois, and Blanc is the New White.
The early success of the competitions would quickly elevate the awareness of Nebraska Brewing Company.
2009 US Open Beer Championship
2010 Great American Beer Festival
2010 United States Open Beer Championship
2010 World Beer Cup
Beyond the barrel-aged beers, there were many other awards in the early years that have continued on throughout the 15 years Nebraska Brewing Company has been in business. You can find the impressive list here.
People across the country took notice! Lots of chatter drew Beer Advocate's attention, who interviewed Nebraska Brewing. This kind of publicity started an interest in Nebraska Brewing Company beers in places across the United States, as far away as New York City to around the globe in Japan.
How hard is it not to talk about work 24 x 7?
Kim replied, “It is impossible because the whole family has been involved over the years. It is the fabric of our existence. Our three kids were 10, 12, and 14 when we opened. They knew about everything we were doing in the restaurant and brewing beer. Down the road, our boys would do some homebrewing to understand the process of what it takes to make craft beer”.
It is fantastic to see the two sons still involved in the business. Connor does social media and is a marketing ambassador. When in the taproom, you will always get a big welcome and smile from him! Dylan runs all of the logistics and operations in the brewery, from packaging to shipping. He is one busy guy that runs a tight operation! I am always amazed at the massive brewing area and admire anyone who can lead an undertaking like that.
What is the one thing you thought you would never do as a brewery?
Kim responded, “I never thought we would make hard seltzers, but we did. It was something that had gained significant traction in the market. We didn’t rush in but took the time to make a good seltzer. We have a talented brewing staff who made sure it was something our patrons would like before releasing it. The other test of how well we have done is seeing our seltzers win some awards.”
Paul added, “For me, it would be hazy IPAs. We have done them, but it hasn’t been a major focus. Over the years, our goal always has been to be true to the style. This includes making sure we are using the right yeast and malts.”
The couple discussed how they wanted to stay creative. They meet as a team with the brewers regularly in a meeting they call the Drink Tank. Tyson Arp, the Head Brewer, has been with Nebraska brewing company since the early days. He said they are crossing batch 300 on their pilot system. As a consumer, I love to try the new beers that Nebraska Brewing Company creates!
Being able to try new recipes is vital to providing a selection of beer at the taproom that now spans 40 taps. I know when I come in, it is always a difficult task of what to choose! In the past 15 years, Nebraska Brewing Company has gone from 4 tap handles to 40. That is crazy to comprehend! At the same time, you know you will always be able to get some of the staple beers with great lasting power, such as Cardinal Pale Ale and EOS Hefeweizen.
Tony Munich, Lead Brewer, talked about getting to help create a beer that gets released and how special that is. A truly creative team from the beginning! Tyson has been so instrumental in developing incredible beers over the years. I have chatted with Tyson on several occasions and love the story of how he came up with the base recipe for the stouts at Nebraska Brewing Company. The stouts are unbelievable in that they are so rich but not sweet. The balance is extraordinary, especially with my favorite MOAB - the Mother of All Bettys. The perfect amount of bourbon barrel goodness in this stout! Every craft beer enthusiast should get the chance to try this one. It will set the bar very high for you as you have other barrel-aged stouts.
