“Our purpose is to build community one pint at a time,” Adams said.
Insurgent Brewing Co., located in Chino Valley, was selected as the SBDC’s Makeover of a Lifetime recipient. SBDC used its CARES funding to help small businesses.
The selection for the makeover meant better signage, fresh paint and a sizable patio with awnings.
The renovations worked. Rob Valenzuela, who co-owns Insurgent with his wife, Laura, said the makeover, especially the signage, has doubled the number of customers. He said before the large painting with their name went up, a lot of people didn’t know they were there.
“As soon as the name was painted, people would come out of Safeway, see us and stop in. It has been extremely busy ever since. We have at least twice as many customers,” he said.
Valenzuela said when they learned about the makeover, they applied for it and they were happy and grateful to be selected. After they were selected, three representatives of SBDC came out to find out what needed to be improved.
The SBDC was able to recruit Sherwin-Williams to donate the paint and then they hired painters. “It helps us that our place looks nice,” Valenzuela said. “I was surprised and honored that we were selected.”
Insurgent offers classical styles of beer with personal touches. Valenzuela is proudest of an IPA called Infidel, which he points out means non-believer. “People try it and go, ‘wow, I can drink this.’ It’s hoppy, but not overly bitter,” he said.
He calls food at Insurgents “elevated pub fare,” which offers flatbread pizza, tacos, quesadillas and enchiladas. The meals run about $15 each.
Casual rock and roll music is provided every Saturday night from 5-8 p.m. Local musician Terry Wheeler often performs. Brunches are offered the first Sunday of each month from 11 a.m.-1 p.m..
The makeover also helped them improve their website.
Valenzuela said Insurgent, which opened in 2016, survived the pandemic by offering take-out during the roughest time. He said regular customers kept them going. “I appreciate them because they knew what we went through and that we’re still here.”
HELP FROM CRAFT BEER ACT
U.S. Rep Tom O’Halleran announced that the Craft Beer Modernization Act has helped Mother Road Brewing Co. in Flagstaff and Verde Brewing in Cottonwood prosper.
Oliver Adams, director of People and Culture at Mother Road Brewing Co., said the Craft Beer Modernization Act supplied funding that allowed them to invest in their crew and their new CO2 water recapture system.
“We view the Craft Beer Modernization Act as a great benefit to independent craft brewers across the U.S.,” he said.
Mother Road’s goal is to pay employees in the 75th percentile relative to the job, industry and cost of living of the area where they are working, said Adams, and the Craft Beer Modernization Act helps them toward this goal.
Ultimately, it was their workers’ resourcefulness and dedication to their purpose and values that kept them open through the pandemic, he added.
Mother Road brews quality beer by using industry led technology, processes and techniques that ensure fresh and delicious pints every time, said Adams. This includes four main beers, which are distributed throughout Arizona through Hensley Beverage Co. They are Tower Station IPA, Conserve and Protect Golden Ale, Limited Visibility IPA and Daily Driver Low Octane IPA.
Conserve and Protect and Golden Ale has a collaboration with the Arizona Game and Fish Department to support the conservation of more than 800 species in Arizona. A portion of the sales from every can sold goes toward conservation projects.
Mother Road has a co-operated food truck called the Roadside Stove, which features 360 beef sliders; 360 beef is raised within 30 miles of the brewery, where ranchers Zach and Shannon Wolfe practice regenerative, sustainable cattle grazing and feed their cattle Mother Road spent grain.
Mother Road has a large selection of indoor and patio seating, as the brewing company recently renovated its downtown Flagstaff taproom to include indoor seating, a large bar and a large walk-in beer fridge.
“Our purpose is to build community one pint at a time,” Adams said. “One of the joys that we have as a brewery is welcoming back our repeat customers. We’re family-friendly, dog-friendly and will teach anyone the fundamentals of craft beer.”
Also praising the Craft Beer Modernization Act and other pandemic assistance is Alex Goetting, founder and brewer for Verde Brewing Co.
Goetting credited Rep. O’Halleran for understanding that breweries are an important manufacturing business in small towns, as every manufacturing job creates three other jobs. He said O’Halleran’s staff, especially Keith Brekhus, helped them navigate the federal programs that were available to Verde Brewing Co.
“The various forms of assistance that we were able to access were very helpful in allowing us to reopen bigger and better,” he said. “We spent the time keeping heads down and masks up, and assisting the staff navigate the vaccination process. The federal assistance has allowed us to increase our staff and their pay rates.”
Goetting said they also took time to improve their facilities for both the customer experience and their ability to make more great beer.
Verde Brewing Co. has eight beers on tap that are full-flavored, fresh and delicious. This includes a wide range of styles and flavors. “We aim to give our customers world-class beer with an authentic brewery experience in the heart of Arizona.”
He says their food is simple and affordable. Specials include half-price growler fill on Wednesday, half-price nacho Thursday and half-price BBQ sandwich on Fridays.
Verde Brewing Verde Brewing seats 35 people inside and 35 outside. Goetting hopes to add music in the spring.
Verde Brewing’s appeal has expanded beyond Cottonwood. Arizona State University student research showed that Verde Brewing has become known statewide as a recognizable brand. Goetting attributes the company’s popularity to a simple desire to make better beer.
“We have a great staff, and it makes it so enjoyable to work with them,” he said. FBN
By Stan Bindell, FBN
