Today we’d like to introduce you to Laura Hill, PhD and Jason Kinderman.
Hi Laura & Jason, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
We met and started dating when we were working at other breweries but we both had the shared dream of opening our own brewery one day. We eventually started planning how to make that dream a reality and ended up deciding that Bryan was the perfect location for our business. We knew that we wanted to make good beers in a wide variety of styles and we wanted to create a welcoming atmosphere that felt like an extension of everyone’s backyard. We started out in a rented location that was primarily an outdoor venue and eventually found our current location where we were able to expand our brewing operations and added a Detroit-style pizza restaurant. Running a restaurant was not initially part of our plan, but being able to provide food consistently has been a really great addition to the business.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I’m not sure any small business start up would consider the path to opening a smooth road. The first big challenge was finding a space that could function as a brewery and had outdoor space; there were not as many available spaces, so it took us nearly a year to find our first space and it had a lot of challenges associated with it. One was that the brewery had to be forced into a small pier and beam house, which as you can imagine is not an ideal production space. The other was that we didn’t really have any climate controlled space so if we had bad weather, we had to close. That is part of what led us to our new space, which has a larger production space and climate controlled indoor seating and that has been a game changer in the past year. Another big challenge was and is the same that any small business faces and is the sheer amount of time and energy you have to pour into a small business. We are involved in every single aspect of the business including brewing, marketing, cooking, bartending, etc. and there are only so many hours in the day so we are rarely not working on the business during waking hours. Having said that, we are also very aware that we are getting to fulfill our dream of owning and operating a business so when we are worn out or frustrated, we really try to focus on the positive and how fortunate we are.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about KinderHill Brew Lab?
We are a small brew pub and Detroit-style pizza restaurant with a large outdoor biergarten for the whole family to enjoy. We specialize in rotating menu items for our beer, cocktail, and food menus because we like to make sure there is always something new to try when you visit. Jason & Laura both worked in the brewing industry for many years before branching out on their own and something they enjoy is experimenting with new styles, ingredients, and recipes. There is always a new beer on tap, a new pizza each month, and a new cookie every week. We want to be a space where you can come every week and not get tired of what is on the menu. We also strive to be not only a bar/restaurant but a community gathering place where everyone feels welcome and that we are actively contributing to our community and adding value.
Networking and finding a mentor can have such a positive impact on one’s life and career. Any advice?
The brewing industry is unique in that everyone is very collaborative and welcoming, so networking comes naturally. We have been fortunate to meet many people along the way that were happy to help and guide us as we were learning and one thing we’ve noticed that most people are excited to share what they know–you just have to be willing to ask for help when you need it.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.kinderhillbrewlab.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/khbrewlab/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/khbrewlab/
