This is a part of a continuing series of Q&As with members of the brewing community from across the U.S.
Brewer Magazine will share business and personal insights from Brewmasters, Head Brewers, Brewing Managers, Sales Directors, QCQA Managers and others each weekend to help you get to know each other better in the industry and learn more to better develop your own brand.
BREWER: How do you feel your job has had to adapt in the beer market compared to a few years ago?
JOHNSTON: If there is one thing I’ve learned over the course of my eight years in the brewing industry it is to be flexible and able to adapt at a moment’s notice. I oversee 16 Iron Hill Brewery brewpubs, and in one day any number of them could have an issue arise. It could be related to beer, personnel, equipment … you name it. I have to be able to help the brewer onsite work through the problem towards a solution because at the end of the day it’s all about putting quality beer on tap for our guests to enjoy.
BREWER: Who is your mentor in the industry and why? What have you learned from them?
JOHNSTON: My industry mentor is
Larry Horwitz, former Regional Brewer at Iron Hill Brewery who moved on to open
Four String Brewing Company. I’ve learned a great deal from Larry, and I won’t list everything but here is a short list. First and most important of all, Larry took on the daunting task of cultivating me into the professional brewer I am today. Second would be the importance of paying close attention to every little detail of the brewing process. From recipe formulation, to brew day, to the first day a beer went on tap, Larry taught me that every step of the process was crucial and would have a direct influence, not only on the taste of the beer but also the guest’s perception of your skill as a brewer. Larry guided me through all aspects of the brewing process and grew my brewing science knowledge base. He introduced me to many of fellow brewing colleagues and kick started my involvement in the Master Brewers Association of Americas District Philadelphia. Even though he has moved on from Iron Hill Brewery and is no longer my boss he will answer my calls and texts without hesitation. I owe him a lot.
BREWER: Can you share a success story that you are proud of in your job or maybe a story of how you learned from a situation that has altered your thoughts on how you do your job now?
JOHNSTON: In 2018, we opened four new brewpubs (Greenville, South Carolina; Rehoboth, Delaware; Philadelphia and Hershey, Pennsylvania). These were my first glimpses into building a brewpub from the ground up. I was fortunate enough to be involved in almost every aspect of the start-up, from the brewery equipment installation, to planning the opening tap list, to the inaugural brews to watching the first pint being poured from the newly installed draft system. It was a beautiful thing.
BREWER: Can you touch on something your brewery has added lately that’s unique or making your business more successful (it could be equipment, technology or people)?
JOHNSTON: We recently had two awesome individuals join the Iron Hill Brewery team,
Kim Boerema and Joe Kopke. Both gentlemen joined our team, coming in with years of experience from other restaurants. They are very dedicated to growing Iron Hill Brewery and wave the “beer” flag daily. Even though they aren’t brewers, their passion for our beer impresses me everyday and I look forward to seeing where they can take us as a brewery.