​Why Flavor Drives Bruz Beers’ Brewer David Olson​

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.

David Olson​, ​Head​ Brewer​, Bruz Beers — Denver​

​BREWER: ​Why did you enter the craft beer industry and what makes you love being a part of it and staying in it?
​OLSON: [I was a] home brewer volunteer brought on for full time. I also drove a distro delivery truck for a month.

​BREWER: ​What do you feel have been new challenges in your position that have helped push you and make you better at your job?
OLSON: ​Beer is all about flavor for me. What drives me is flavor experiences. Every time I try an exceptional version of a style I am driven to hone my process to chase that excellence. Every year new exceptional breweries come to market and push the boundaries of flavor and excellence and that challenges me.

​BREWER: ​How has the definition of growth for your company evolved and how have you adjusted to be successful in that new definition?
OLSON: ​Our “before-time” goals were all about taproom expansion and experience opportunities. Since the pandemic we shifted a portion of those goals into packaged beer​ ​… aka ​c​anning. I have worked at those goals at another brewery so the adjustment wasn’t major. However package quality and draft quality are different beasts and I am constantly trying to improve my package beer quality.

​BREWER: ​What strategic growth opportunity do you feel is still “out there” for your brand and how are you working on capitalizing on it this year?
OLSON: ​Being a ​Belgian​-​focused brewery we see some opportunity to expand the portfolio into sour beer (Flanders, Lambic, etc.). While it isn’t a major opportunity for sales growth it is a brand growth/expansion that opens up more opportunities.

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