BEST OVERALL BUSINESS Cabarrus Brewing Company Still Hoppin’

Photo Courtesy: Cabarrus Convention & Visitors Bureau - www.visitcabarrus.com

Photo Courtesy: Cabarrus Convention & Visitors Bureau - www.visitcabarrus.com

“It is our goal to make Cabarrus County proud as it is our name sake.” —Steve Steinbacher

Photo Courtesy: Cabarrus Convention & Visitors Bureau - www.visitcabarrus.com

BEST OVERALL BUSINESS

Cabarrus Brewing Company Still Hoppin’

By: Jason Huddle

Five years ago, owning a craft brewing company and tap house in Concord was just a dream to Steve Steinbacher. This March, Cabarrus brewing Company will be celebrating their fourth anniversary. Right now they are celebrating recognition as the Cabarrus Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s Small Business of the year, as well as Cabarrus Magazine Readers’ Best Overall Business. Life is good.

After having lived in the Pacific Northwest for a time in the early 90’s, Steinbacher says he was “bitten by not only the craft beer bug but also the brewery as a destination thing.” After moving to Concord in 1995, he already had the dream to start a craft brewery here but didn’t know how. 20 years later, his dream began to finally take shape. “We kept driving to Charlotte to go the few breweries that were down there at the time and I would ask why there were no breweries in Concord. After finding out why (zoning restrictions) and developing a plan to fix that, I was able to convince a close friend of mine to give it a shot while at the Masters one year and the rest is history,” regaled Steinbacher. “Of course, we planned something smaller but as you get into the planning and implementation of it all things just tend to creep and get bigger and bigger.”

Cabarrus Brewing Company opened in March, 2016 to much fanfare and delight of beer enthusiasts. From the beginning, it was evident Steinbacher and his team didn’t just see this as an investment. They are every bit as much the beer enthusiasts as their customers. “I like beer for a whole lot of reasons,” Steinbacher explained. “From the taste, to the science and even the history of it all. But, what I value the most is the social element of the liquid. I get asked all the time what my favorite beer is and my answer will always be that it depends on where and with whom I am drinking it. I would rather be drinking what some would judge the worst beer in the world with my sons at the beach or with other great friends in my back yard, as I have often done, than drinking what some would judge the best beer in the world in a basement somewhere all by myself. Beer is, and always has been, a social product and that is what I value most about it and why after living for almost 25 years in Cabarrus County and Concord, is what I take the most stock in, related to my investment with good friends in our community and for what I am most proud.”

It is that social element, Steinbacher mentioned, that may be the reason Cabarrus Brewing continues to win the accolades of Cabarrus residents, as well as keeps them coming back for more. “It is the hope that they enter a welcoming environment, see a smiling face, look over a broad selection of craft beers, ciders, wines or any other soft drink and, in the not too distant future, a lot more varied food options,” Steinbacher said. “It is our goal that they leave with a smile on their faces after having had a great time and look that they look forward to coming back with family and friends soon…We have stressed that although we are a craft brewery, what we do is much more than brew beer and I feel our customers believe that and know that we strive to do a lot in support of our community.”

Cabarrus Brewing Owner, Steve Steinbacher (Center) and Cabarrus Magazine Publisher, Jason Huddle (second from left) hold the award for Best Overall Business.

Photo Courtesy: Michael A. Anderson Photography

Steinbacher is quick to point out, although his brewery won these awards, the other breweries in the area have much to offer as well. “One of the best things about going to many different breweries is that when you have been to one, you have been to one. They are all different and no two are the same. Each one has its different feel and or vibe. Every brewery in our area is a welcoming place and all work to make their tap rooms welcoming places.”

So, what sets Cabarrus Brewing apart? “If we differ, it may be in the size of our tap room and even though it is large, it still has a feel that is welcoming and warm,” Steinbacher surmised. “I think the fact that our location was once such an important part of our areas history and conveys that to all who enter. It also plays a huge roll in that differentiation. I also am grateful for a staff of professionals that go out of their way to ensure that, even when we have huge crowds, we do all we can to make sure everyone has a great time and enjoys being there with so many others from the community.”

As with any business, everything hasn’t been perfect. Steinbacher relates building a business to raising a child. “Things are going very well but starting a business is much like raising a child,” he explained. “Your child is born and all is right with the world in every way. As your baby grows, they get into things and you need to change the way you watch them and make sure they are safe and sound. As you kids get older and starts interacting with a rapidly changing outside would you too need to know what they are being exposed to so as to be aware of what’s happening around them. This means

you, as a parent, need to make sure you are changing as is the world around all of us. That is what makes starting a new business so interesting. It is no different than raising your kids for all the good, bad and ugly that comes with all we do. Me personally, I love being a parent.”

And, just like a child, businesses grow and evolve. Steinbacher said, as the future unfolds, customers can expect Cabarrus Brewing Company to do the same. “As with any young

business, one must strive to keep it going and evolving and we will do that while staying true to our mission and community grounded approach. We will responsibly manage our growth and development staying true to community in all we do.”

Ultimately, Steinbacher and the team at Cabarrus Brewing Company, take great pride, not only in their product, but in the community they represent. “It is our goal to make Cabarrus County proud as it is our name sake.”