Today we’d like to introduce you to Eric Harkleroad.
Hi Eric, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have been a fan of unique and different beer from the moment I was able to start drinking. I was lucky enough to turn 21 in a place that actually had craft beer available in the stores and I tried new and different beer frequently. Although it would be a long time before I would be able to make my own batch of beer, I got interested in the process as part of my general interest and enthusiasm for beer. When I was finally able to make beer for the first time I fell in love with the hobby, it has always been a wonderful mix of art and science.
As the years went by, I gained the confidence to try unusual and unique ingredients in beer, like yarrow and Old Man’s Beard, a lichen. I also discovered that, not only did I really enjoy making beer but was pretty good at making it. At one point when I was working on some data for my PhD. I began thinking about what the next steps in my career would be, and I didn’t really like what the answers were going to mean for my family, so I began asking myself what else I would do. In my opinion Saint Joseph did not have enough breweries for a city of its size and I decided to turn my love of beer and brewing into a business.
At this point we’ve been open for over two years and I’ve been brewing for over twelve. It certainly hasn’t been easy, but I love making wonderful and unique beers for the people of Saint Joe. I have a lot of passion for it and really enjoy talking beer with my customers and coming up with new and unique beers.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think anyone has a smooth path when starting a new business. Getting off the ground is always hard, especially when it’s your first time and you are doing it alone. Early on there were all these things I needed to do but there were so many things I didn’t know I needed to do, progress is hard when you don’t know what questions you need to answer, much less where to look for the answers. It was kind of like putting together a puzzle where you know what you want it to look like in the end but don’t know how many pieces there are, there are no edge pieces to guide you, and some of the pieces have to be put in place before others but no one told you which.
Currently one of my biggest struggles is finding the time to do everything. The business consists of me, one regular bartender, and a handful of other people who bartend irregularly to fill holes in the schedule. While I occasionally get help from friends at times I do all of the brewing, owner/business tasks, maintenance, etc., as well as most of the bartending This keeps me constantly hopping from one task to another, making it easy for things to slip through the cracks.
We’ve been impressed with 1ST Barrel Brewing, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
1ST Barrel Brewing is a small craft brewery known for making amazing classic styles of beer as well as unique and unusual brews that you won’t find anywhere else. We make beers with ingredients like dandelion, juniper, herbs, and heather tips, just to name a few, as well as with old varieties of grain like spelt wheat, and rare or forgotten styles of beer like a Kentucky Common ale. This gives people a chance to experience beers like they have never imagined in a comfortable and relaxed environment.
Our beer is made in batches smaller than some breweries test batches right here in Saint Joe. While we do have a few beers year-round most of our twelve taps feature beers that are seasonally available, come around just a few times a year, or are one time offerings. This means you can always find something new on our constantly changing menu. Variety and quality are what we are all about.
Our most sought after beer is probably our Lion’s Tooth Pale ale made with dandelion blossoms. It comes around once a year in early Summer and never lasts long. It is truly one of the most unique beers you will ever have with floral, honey, and earthy notes added by the dandelion. Additionally, we frequently make high gravity beers like our Russian Imperial Stout which releases every year after Thanksgiving and is routinely above 14% ABV. Despite our love for unique and different beers we still love our classic styles like our Three Pearl String lager, one of our year round beers, which features hops grown in Nebraska, making it light and easy drinking without being just another boring lager.
Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
No one really gets anywhere without help from others along the way, and there’s too many people who’ve helped to name them all here. I certainly couldn’t be where I am without help from my family, especially my wife, who has kept the household together while I’ve been putting so much into the business.
I’ve also received alot of help from the Old Joe Brew Club, Saint Joe’s homebrew club. The members have really helped me out in so many ways, from giving me feed back on my beers, to pouring beer for me at festivals, they even helped me get cleaned up and prepared for opening day. The Club Members have been some of my most loyal customers and biggest cheerleaders.
Likewise the other businesses in Downtown Saint Joe have been a source of great support. There are always events being put on with the organizing business trying to get as many of the other local businesses as possible in on the action. Additionally the business community has wealth of experience and knowledge to draw from and everyone is quite happy to share and help in any way they can.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.1stbarrelbrews.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1st.barrelbrewing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100083360311567
