Broomtail Craft Brewing

The art & science of success

C

By Jenny White

raft brewers know the value of a good recipe. Melding together the perfect ingredients to make the perfect pint of beer is kind of

the point.

Te first good recipe that the owners of Broomtail Craft Brewery, Barry and Lisa Owings, started out using consisted of these two secret ingredients: Barry and Lisa Owings.

Putting together her artistic and creative ability with his scientific expertise and curiosity for understanding the science of good beer proved to be a superlative combination that produces high-quality, delicious beer.

Barry is a water chemist and formulator. Tat means he tinkers with the characteristics of water used in products to engineer flavors and quality. When the pair first toyed with the idea of producing their beer recipes for the public, Barry knew the only way to develop a beer true to a particular style was to engineer the water true to that style as well.

Lisa says the pair started out brewing in a family barn on their property. Broomtail Craft Brewery soon grew out of the barn, as demand ballooned. Te brewery first branched out with a brewing space in an industrial area in Wilmington.

“Te brewery has a small taproom and it quickly became

34 | Carolina Brew Scene | Summer 2018

a popular spot for our customers to meet and gather,” Lisa said. “It’s kind of like a ‘Cheers’ spot where everyone knows your name.”

Te idea for a larger space to accommodate a bigger taproom grew organically as the brewery was looking for an area to accommodate a souring site for Broomtail’s sour beers process. Lisa knew she had a chance to create something more than just a place for a beer-making process

Lisa’s proclivity for creativity became a key factor for the company’s next stage of growth. With space to age barrels of Broomtail sours with blends of their local yeasts and bacteria as well as standardized blends, coupled with a taproom and beer garden furnished with locally crafted furniture and a large stage for live music, Te Sour Barn opened in mid2016.

“Te remodeling took about 10 months,” Lisa said. “We couldn’t be happier with the results. It just has such a cool and unique vibe to it. We’ve got so many great customers that come to Te Sour Barn and we’ve been a part of some really great events here.”

Lisa soon found another niche for Te Sour Barn: Partnering with local nonprofits to offer community fundraising events.

“I love being able to be a part of so many wonderful

Summer 2018 | Carolina Brew Scene | 35

nonprofit events that raise money for some great causes — most of them local,” Lisa said. “I am grateful Te Sour Barn enables us to offer space for fundraising events in our community.

“Tis last year we were able to team up with several groups to raise funds, like Debra of America (Te Dystrophic Epidermolysis Bullosa Research Association) and WE International, which fundraises to increase awareness of and help prevent gender-biased violence like human trafficking and violence against women.”

Lisa is currently working with the Wilmington-based Coastal Horizons, a nonprofit organization that offers advocacy and support for women. An upcoming event this month at Te Sour Barn will raise money for the rape crisis center.

Animals are another cause close to Lisa and Barry Owings’ hearts. Lisa explained Broomtail has been proud to be a part of the annual Wilmington Fur Ball event for the past three years.

Reciprocating that support back to our community is a big part of what Broomtail Craft Brewery and The Sour Barn is about. - L ISA O WINGS “ “

38 | Carolina Brew Scene | Summer 2018