🎙️Welcome to Episode Twenty of Liquid Liner Notes!

On this episode I chat with Eric Hobbs (@EriclHobbs), Co-Founder and CEO of Blind Corner Brewery (@BlindCornerBeer) in Naperville, Illinois.

We start with Eric's professional background in the brewing industry. He began right out of college as a sales rep for a distribution company, and then moved to Joseph Huber/Berghoff Brewery as an Illinois State Manager.

Next, he moved to Goose Island Brewing Company, first as a Market Manager and eventually moving to a Key-Account Manager. After the buyout he moved to AB InBev for just over a year as a High End Manager before leaving to start his own brewery, Penrose Brewing Company. After three years the decision came that it was time for him to leave. His next stop was with Solemn Oath Brewing as Vice President and then Chief Operating Officer. Eric spent eight years at Solemn, before deciding to leave, growing their distribution footprint, opening a Chicago taproom, and starting several sub-brands.

Utilizing his two decades of experience, Eric co-founded Blind Corner Brewery with his two partners, Head Brewer JP Vander Veen (@ofthepeat), and Sales Director Nick Scofield (@nick_scof). Blind Corner operates as an alternating proprietorship with state of the art non-alcoholic brewery @GoBrewing and shares their taproom. Eric and I discuss what beers to look forward to, as well as carefully thought out processes like self-distribution, and top tier customer service.

You can find Blind Corner at their taproom, 1665 Quincy Ave, Naperville, IL 60540, as well as many boutique craft beer shops around the Chicagoland area.

🎙️Welcome to episode nineteen of Liquid Liner Notes!

On this episode I chat with Adam Vavrick (@Adam.Vavrick), the Corporate Buyer and Business Development Manager for Beer on the Wall (@WeHaveGreatBeerEH).

We start with how he became interested in craft beer, eventually working at Sam’s Wines & Spirits and then @BinnysBev after the purchase. We discuss being the beer manager at one of the largest beer shops in the Midwest during the time of exponential craft-growth. During his time at Binny’s he also oversaw the initial Goose Island bourbon county Black Friday release, with several to follow.

Next Adam moved to Waunakee, Wisconsin, to become the Director of Sales & Marketing for @DrinkOctopi, a state of the art contract brewery. Missing Chicago, Adam moved back to the city, taking the Beer Director role at @PublicanChicago. Working st Publican gave Adam his first experience in a restaurant, further developing his love of the experiential side of beer. While there Adam got to collab on beers with the likes of @FirestoneWalker, help open the O’hare location, and be named one of @WineEnthusiast’s Top 40 Under 40 in 2017.

Next Adam decided to go into the distribution business, founding Do Right Distribution Company in 2019. A boutique craft beer and cider distributor that focused on local Chicago breweries, as well as great European breweries from the defunct Shelton Brother’s portfolio. We talk about the adversity (physical, emotional, & financial) he faced during this venture, including a global pandemic. We also talk about finding his place in the industry again after closing the business.

After picking up bartending shifts at Revolution for a short time, Adam joined Beer on the Wall as Corporate Buyer and Head of Business Development. Beer on the Wall is a boutique craft beer, wine, and spirits store with three suburban locations in Chicagoland. We chat about building a beer program across multiple locations, and what it means for him to be back in customer facing side of beer.

Adam is also involved extracurriculars in the beer world, including being on the Board of Directors for the Beer Culture Center, tasting with the Beverage Institute, and judging multiple global competitions.

Additionally, we talk about Adam’s love of music and synths. Be it creating and documenting sounds, working as a project manager at Wax Trax, or flying to help reconfigure synths for TOOL.

As always looking for feedback and if there’s anyone you guys would like to hear from!