Today we’d like to introduce you to Jacob Trimm.
Hi Jacob, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
We are a Texan family owned operation that started brewing as a team in 2013 and have evolved our craft over the years. Our owners are husband and wife, Jacob and Amanda Trimm, and best friend Bryan Cantu. In 2019 we went to Colorado Boy Brewing’s immersion school to learn how to transition from brewing at home to professional brewing. Coming from different backgrounds, we decided to quit our day jobs and start the brewery, opening in March 2020. We had a successful grand opening followed two days later by the world shutting down. We struggled for survival in the beginning and continued to struggle our first year. Thankfully our community in Georgetown helped support us and we are going strong today.
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?
Our biggest challenge was opening right before the COVID-19 pandemic. It wasn’t just the loss of business but the difficultly spreading the word we were open, even if only for to-go. We didn’t start with a large budget and planned to build as we grow.
Unfortunately, we could not even afford a sign out front in the beginning. It was also difficult to market and advertise when the community was glued to news channels for understandably more important issues. The road continued to be bumpy trying to navigate new legal rules, mask mandates, TABC changes, and now even supply chain issues. These were not obstacles that we could open a book to read about or call another brewery to ask.
We’ve been impressed with Barking Armadillo 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?
Barking Armadillo Brewing is a local brew pub in Georgetown, Texas. We typically have 8-12 of our own beers on tap, offer mead, cider, wine, or non-alcoholic beverages as options for customers. We also feature live music, trivia, name that tune bingo, and a variety of entertainment each month. Food is provided by rotational food trucks that vary each week. We also are both dog and kid friendly inside and out. We like to specialize in variety. We know not everyone drinks the same type of beer so we try to keep a good rotation of different beers on tap.
The benefit of being a smaller brewery is we are able to try “small batch” beers such as a mangonada, which is a spiced mango style beer. Or even our upcoming chocolate bourbon pecan porter. I’m most proud of our brand’s ability to connect with the community. The community has been there from day one to carry us through the most difficult times. We’d like the readers to follow us on social media to learn more about what events we have to offer and come try a beer, or two!
What does success mean to you?
I define success as repeat customers. We wanted a place that both locals and those in the surrounding area could come enjoy with us. When we see the same people every week, enjoying a beer, then we know we are working in the right direction. It is more than great beer that brings customers back but the experience they have. So as we continue to grow I hope we see more and more first time customers come back because that means they enjoyed it the first time!
Contact Info:
- Email: info@barkingarmadillo.com
- Website: barkingarmadillo.com
- Instagram: @barkingarmadillo
- Facebook: @barkingarmadillo
