It’s one thing to run a successful craft brewery. It’s an entirely different beast to open a restaurant.
For Episode 398 of UnCapped, I headed out to Westminster to sit down with Brewery Fire founder and co-owner Jesse Johnson. It’s been about two years since Jesse was last on the show, and his team just crossed a massive milestone: opening the doors to the brand-new Brewery Fire Taphouse.
The transition hasn't been without its growing pains. Jesse gets incredibly candid about the chaos of their opening weekend, the shock of dealing with brutal Google reviews, and the eye-opening realization that hungry people are significantly angrier than drunk people. We talk about the mental toll of hospitality, the importance of setting boundaries as a small business owner, and what it actually takes to get a new kitchen off the ground.
Beyond the behind-the-scenes struggles, we cover what makes this new location worth the trip. The kitchen is putting out elevated bar food (including a phenomenal shrimp taco and house-made tater tots that I will forever argue are just hush puppies), but the real surprise is the cocktail program. Lead bartender Gordon is bringing serious mixology to Carroll County, building drinks from scratch with dehydrated garnishes, house-made syrups, and local spirits from McClintock Distilling and Covalent Spirits.
It’s a refreshing, honest look at the food and beverage industry from an owner who wears his heart on his sleeve. Grab a beer and hit play to hear how Brewery Fire is navigating this new chapter and their ongoing commitment to keeping things local.
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Supported by the Brewers Association of Maryland
