This is a part of a continuing series of Q&As with members of the brewing community from across the US.
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.
Glenn Closson, Founder, Ivanhoe Park Brewing — Orlando
BREWER: What do you feel have been new challenges in your position that have helped push you and make you better at your job?
CLOSSON: We are still feeling the pressure from supply chain issues and it has really hurt our ability to forecast and plan, but open communication and a hard working team have been able to help us push through those. It is a lot of “going with the flow”, while also trying to meet deadlines and keep up with taproom and distribution orders.
BREWER: Why did you enter the craft beer industry and what makes you love being a part of it and staying in it?
CLOSSON: I entered the industry in 2013 when I opened my first brewery in Southern California. At the time, it was because I had a huge passion for home brewing and just enjoyed the overall environment in the craft beer community in Southern California. Today, I still enjoy the collaborative effort between breweries and the camaraderie that comes with that.
BREWER: What are some recent trends in brewing that you’ve tried or are excited about trying?
CLOSSON: One thing the brew team has really been working on are hybrid beers. We were doing a lot of Lagers and just tank time was taking too long and holding up that tank space too long. They have been testing out different yeasts to see what works best, but brewing a Kolsch and California Common, to fulfill that Lager style that the consumer is looking for, while expediting fermentation time and turning the tanks quicker.
BREWER: What was your business’s greatest accomplishment during the past year, and what are your goals for your brewery this year?
CLOSSON: 2022 had a lot of great accomplishments, but winning a World Beer Cup Bronze for our Vienna Lager was definitely a highlight of the year, not to shadow the Best Florida Beer Gold for our California Common and Silver for Vienna Lager this year. For 2023 we are looking forward to our continued growth, but concentrating on more efficiencies, not just in the brewery, but throughout all departments of the brewery, to hopefully help streamline a lot of operational processes.
BREWER: What are some changes in the industry that you’ve observed in the past few years, and how has your business adapted to stay competitive?
CLOSSON: As an industry, nationwide, there have been a lot of various changes and trends in the past few years, but in Central Florida, we just like to concentrate on making approachable, high quality beers to keep educating the consumer and create a place for the community to come together. There still seems to be a lot of room for growth in the Central Florida region and just keeping the partnerships created and maintaining rapport with accounts as we grow has been helpful in staying competitive in the marketplace as more transition to hyper local brands.
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