I actually visited Hill Farmstead Brewery last month in Vermont's Northeast Kingdom. If you're not aware, they're sort of the Magnolia Cupcakes of breweries - people drive hours to get there, wait in line for hours, and generally get very hyped up about the beer.
While I waited over an hour to buy my 2 allowed bottles, I was able to read a little about the guy who started the brewery. I'm paraphrasing, but he basically explained in an interview somewhere that once you realize you're not doing something for fun or for yourself, you come to see other elements about the work that matter, and that those are what ultimately make it worth while. (His motivation has a lot to do with maintaining his family connection to the land he's brewing on, which has been in his family for like 200 years.)
I thought those were pretty wise words for anyone considering a new venture. Novelty and fun wear off. If you can figure out what about the work really matters, you'll be less likely to burn out.
FWIW I saw the founder of the brewery, and I can tell you he was not showing any signs of having a good time or a good day.
FWIW I saw the founder of the brewery, and I can tell you he was not showing any signs of having a good time or a good day.
Eh, Shaun's almost always like that, at least on days the retail shop is open. Pictures of him actually brewing or hanging out with other brewers or at his (amazing) festivals confirm that he is definitely doing what he loves.
Hill Farmstead is a very interesting case. Shaun has said many times that there is an absolute limit on the amount of beer he can reasonably brew on-site, and that he has no interest in expanding beyond that limit. As a result, given the quality of his product, he will inevitably be swamped by demand unless he raises prices, something he has generally been reluctant to do. Imagine if Napa's highest-rated winery were selling the vast majority of its juice in $20 bottles.
Hmm, but at least he can reasonably resist pressure to lower prices... :]
[This is not something to be sneezed at... like 75% of the conversation on U.S. beer websites seems to be complaining about beer prices—which seems a bit crazy to me, as from my point of view, U.S. craft beer prices are already extremely low (craft beer prices where I live are probably three times what they typically are in the U.S.)!]
Got into craft beer in the US and then lived in Japan for a year. Japan taxes beer based on malt content. There are some really great breweries over there, but $9 pints (at a brewpub even) add up fast. (If you're ever in Tokyo check out Baird Beer, they've got a few taprooms now- the one in Harajuku is amazing for the contrast between the insanity of the street outside and the calm of the pub. Anyway, big fan of their Barleywine.)
> the one in Harajuku is amazing for the contrast between the insanity of the street outside
A slight nitpick: the Baird Harajuku Taproom is near Takashita-dori (presumably the insanity to which you were referring), but its actual location is on a quiet backstreet about 50m away -- and that 50m makes an incredible difference... The ambience on the street outside the taproom is amazingly quiet.
[I make the point because I'm always struck by how amazingly quiet the location seems, despite the proximity to T.D. It always feels sort of surreal...]
An afternoon at Bakushu Club Popeye sipping Baird and others remains one of the top beer drinking experiences in my life. Japan's beer scene is really exciting, and it's too bad so little of it makes it to the states—what does is often pricey even relative to European imports.
Low prices for food, drink, clothes, cars, computers etc was something I observed in my brief time in the US. Its great when you see home grown stuff for sale cheaper than it is at home when you have flown 12 hours to get there.
While I waited over an hour to buy my 2 allowed bottles, I was able to read a little about the guy who started the brewery. I'm paraphrasing, but he basically explained in an interview somewhere that once you realize you're not doing something for fun or for yourself, you come to see other elements about the work that matter, and that those are what ultimately make it worth while. (His motivation has a lot to do with maintaining his family connection to the land he's brewing on, which has been in his family for like 200 years.)
I thought those were pretty wise words for anyone considering a new venture. Novelty and fun wear off. If you can figure out what about the work really matters, you'll be less likely to burn out.
FWIW I saw the founder of the brewery, and I can tell you he was not showing any signs of having a good time or a good day.