Susi Foerg never thought she鈥檇 end up opening a brewery, but that鈥檚 what she is doing.
The German-born, 麻豆精选-raised lover of all things outdoorsy has spent the majority of her career working for Valley First Credit Union as a teller and administrator. And, although she liked beer, she never imagined she would be at the helm of her own craft brewery.
鈥淚 loved my job because I got to spend all day having five- to 10-minute conversations with credit union members who came in,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 got to really know everyone coming in. I鈥檓 all about that human connection.鈥�
During a trip to the Sunshine Coast, Foerg visited Persephone Brewing Company鈥攁 farm craft brewery鈥攁nd she instantly fell in love.
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鈥淚t was sunny and they had picnic tables in the grass and there were families and kids and dogs and I was like, 鈥榦h my gosh!鈥欌�� she said. 鈥淚 didn鈥檛 really know what the craft beer world was like and I thought, 鈥楬oly! This is the dream.鈥� Then I wanted to try doing that here.
鈥淭he whole thing is, I get to create this company where I get to have all these conversations with people all day.鈥�
Foerg鈥檚 vision for her brewery, comprised of meticulous details and feminine touches, is not only to serve a tasty cold one but also offer a relaxed atmosphere that concentrates on bringing the outside in. And every square inch of the brewery has Foerg鈥檚 personality shining through.
鈥淭his project has been three years in the making and all my heart is in it. I thought about a lot of the specifics of what I want where and why and how,鈥� she said. 鈥淭here is a purpose and reason for every aspect in the place and I鈥檓 so pumped for people to come in when it鈥檚 done.鈥�
The taproom, open, dog-friendly patio and private party room will offer plenty of space for new conversations and connections.
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One thing you won鈥檛 find a lot of, though, is televisions.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 not the shtick here,鈥� she said, noting 鈥渢he guys鈥� weren鈥檛 particularly fond of the idea. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 the thing about breweries, you sit at a communal table next to some random person and you start chatting over the beer and all of a sudden you鈥檝e made a friend.
鈥淥r, at the very least, you鈥檝e made human contact.鈥�
Foerg did say the TVs would be hung during major sports events.
Her brewery, located in a totally redesigned truck warehouse on Vaughan Avenue, will make a perfect addition to the growing craft beer scene in 麻豆精选 and Foerg said she has been welcomed so far.
鈥淲e need more (breweries) in this area because the whole culture is going from one to another and trying different beers,鈥� she said. 鈥淎 culture doesn鈥檛 happen without multiples of the same thing or similar things.鈥�
Rustic Reel Brewing Co. and its 鈥済ood vibes鈥� are coming soon as Foerg hopes to open this summer.
