my name is Eric high stead and I’m a brewer with Blackfoot River Brewing
brewer with Blackfoot River Brewing
brewer with Blackfoot River Brewing Company here and how long I’m onto him I
Company here and how long I’m onto him I
Company here and how long I’m onto him I didn’t start off as a brewer I went to
didn’t start off as a brewer I went to
didn’t start off as a brewer I went to school and studied math and physics
school and studied math and physics
school and studied math and physics education at Montana State University
education at Montana State University
education at Montana State University and was a teacher for four years before
and was a teacher for four years before
and was a teacher for four years before I realized that wasn’t really a good fit
I realized that wasn’t really a good fit
I realized that wasn’t really a good fit for me I have always had an enthusiasm
for me I have always had an enthusiasm
for me I have always had an enthusiasm for learning and I really like working
for learning and I really like working
for learning and I really like working with young people so when I was in
with young people so when I was in
with young people so when I was in college I changed major just a couple of
college I changed major just a couple of
college I changed major just a couple of times before choosing teaching and
times before choosing teaching and
times before choosing teaching and really hoped that through education I’d
really hoped that through education I’d
really hoped that through education I’d be able to share my passion for learning
be able to share my passion for learning
be able to share my passion for learning and math and science with young people
and math and science with young people
and math and science with young people and that would be a really fulfilling
and that would be a really fulfilling
and that would be a really fulfilling way to spend my career and I really
way to spend my career and I really
way to spend my career and I really clung on to that hope for four years
clung on to that hope for four years
clung on to that hope for four years before I realized it just wasn’t a good
before I realized it just wasn’t a good
before I realized it just wasn’t a good fit I tried lots of different things to
fit I tried lots of different things to
fit I tried lots of different things to remedy that
remedy that
remedy that I changed grade levels I change subjects
I changed grade levels I change subjects
I changed grade levels I change subjects I went from teaching math to science I
I went from teaching math to science I
I went from teaching math to science I even changed schools and moved to
even changed schools and moved to
even changed schools and moved to Colorado and got a teaching job at a
Colorado and got a teaching job at a
Colorado and got a teaching job at a charter school and none of that really
charter school and none of that really
charter school and none of that really mattered it was it was kind of a hard
mattered it was it was kind of a hard
mattered it was it was kind of a hard thing to swallow because there’s all
thing to swallow because there’s all
thing to swallow because there’s all these graduate school programs dedicated
these graduate school programs dedicated
these graduate school programs dedicated to getting other professionals to get
to getting other professionals to get
to getting other professionals to get into education and so I really felt like
into education and so I really felt like
into education and so I really felt like I was swimming against the current a
I was swimming against the current a
I was swimming against the current a little bit when I was at that charter
little bit when I was at that charter
little bit when I was at that charter school in Greeley I kind of hit my
school in Greeley I kind of hit my
school in Greeley I kind of hit my tipping point and decided that I was
tipping point and decided that I was
tipping point and decided that I was gonna take a hiatus for education I
gonna take a hiatus for education I
gonna take a hiatus for education I wasn’t ready to totally get out of
wasn’t ready to totally get out of
wasn’t ready to totally get out of teaching altogether but I wanted to take
teaching altogether but I wanted to take
teaching altogether but I wanted to take a break to see if I missed it and I was
a break to see if I missed it and I was
a break to see if I missed it and I was living in Fort Collins at the time and
living in Fort Collins at the time and
living in Fort Collins at the time and my wife was going to graduate school at
my wife was going to graduate school at
my wife was going to graduate school at Colorado State and we loved going to
Colorado State and we loved going to
Colorado State and we loved going to breweries together it’s one of the
breweries together it’s one of the
breweries together it’s one of the things that we kind of bonded over when
things that we kind of bonded over when
things that we kind of bonded over when we first started dating in fact every
we first started dating in fact every
we first started dating in fact every time we travel together we always time
time we travel together we always time
time we travel together we always time our stops for gas at towns that have
our stops for gas at towns that have
our stops for gas at towns that have little breweries so we can stop and
little breweries so we can stop and
little breweries so we can stop and share a flight and and buy a growler
share a flight and and buy a growler
share a flight and and buy a growler stuff started our growler collection
stuff started our growler collection
stuff started our growler collection when she was an AmeriCorps VISTA here in
when she was an AmeriCorps VISTA here in
when she was an AmeriCorps VISTA here in Montana and now we have over a hundred
Montana and now we have over a hundred
Montana and now we have over a hundred growlers boxed up in our garage so
growlers boxed up in our garage so
growlers boxed up in our garage so it’s quite the collection any case one
it’s quite the collection any case one
it’s quite the collection any case one of the breweries in Fort Collins that we
of the breweries in Fort Collins that we
of the breweries in Fort Collins that we went to a lot and this is one of the
went to a lot and this is one of the
went to a lot and this is one of the original craft breweries is New Belgium
original craft breweries is New Belgium
original craft breweries is New Belgium Brewing Company they were a big sponsor
Brewing Company they were a big sponsor
Brewing Company they were a big sponsor for Stef’s graduate program and one of
for Stef’s graduate program and one of
for Stef’s graduate program and one of their company mottos is follow your
their company mottos is follow your
their company mottos is follow your folly and when I was deciding what I
folly and when I was deciding what I
folly and when I was deciding what I wanted to do next I thought a lot about
wanted to do next I thought a lot about
wanted to do next I thought a lot about that and I wasn’t sure what I was wanted
that and I wasn’t sure what I was wanted
that and I wasn’t sure what I was wanted wanted to do but I knew that I wanted it
wanted to do but I knew that I wanted it
wanted to do but I knew that I wanted it to be in no way related to education and
to be in no way related to education and
to be in no way related to education and that it was gonna be a bit of a folly
that it was gonna be a bit of a folly
that it was gonna be a bit of a folly you know something that I’d always
you know something that I’d always
you know something that I’d always wanted to do but I was either too afraid
wanted to do but I was either too afraid
wanted to do but I was either too afraid to try it or I didn’t even know where to
to try it or I didn’t even know where to
to try it or I didn’t even know where to begin
begin
begin so I talked to a couple of military
so I talked to a couple of military
so I talked to a couple of military recruiters to see if that was gonna be a
recruiters to see if that was gonna be a
recruiters to see if that was gonna be a good fit I went and looked at
good fit I went and looked at
good fit I went and looked at apprenticeship programs to get into
apprenticeship programs to get into
apprenticeship programs to get into different trades and I even went to
different trades and I even went to
different trades and I even went to truck driving school over spring break
truck driving school over spring break
truck driving school over spring break my last year of teaching to get my
my last year of teaching to get my
my last year of teaching to get my commercial driver’s license and none of
commercial driver’s license and none of
commercial driver’s license and none of those seemed a lot that great so like I
those seemed a lot that great so like I
those seemed a lot that great so like I said I wanted to follow my folly so
said I wanted to follow my folly so
said I wanted to follow my folly so taking a few steps back
taking a few steps back
taking a few steps back my brother-in-law Tom who lives in
my brother-in-law Tom who lives in
my brother-in-law Tom who lives in Seattle taught me how to homebrew when I
Seattle taught me how to homebrew when I
Seattle taught me how to homebrew when I was early college and every time he and
was early college and every time he and
was early college and every time he and I get together we always have a couple
I get together we always have a couple
I get together we always have a couple of craft beers or maybe some of our own
of craft beers or maybe some of our own
of craft beers or maybe some of our own home brew beer and we always dreamed
home brew beer and we always dreamed
home brew beer and we always dreamed about opening our own brewery so we’d
about opening our own brewery so we’d
about opening our own brewery so we’d sit down and we talk about taproom
sit down and we talk about taproom
sit down and we talk about taproom layouts and flagship styles or you know
layouts and flagship styles or you know
layouts and flagship styles or you know we even came up with our own our own
we even came up with our own our own
we even came up with our own our own brewery name was gonna be called eighth
brewery name was gonna be called eighth
brewery name was gonna be called eighth day breweries because on the eighth day
day breweries because on the eighth day
day breweries because on the eighth day man made beer and it was good so any
man made beer and it was good so any
man made beer and it was good so any case I figured brewing beer was as good
case I figured brewing beer was as good
case I figured brewing beer was as good a following as any and so I decided I
a following as any and so I decided I
a following as any and so I decided I was gonna go to brewing school and
was gonna go to brewing school and
was gonna go to brewing school and become a professional brewer so I called
become a professional brewer so I called
become a professional brewer so I called up UC Davis and looked again into their
up UC Davis and looked again into their
up UC Davis and looked again into their brewing program only to find out there
brewing program only to find out there
brewing program only to find out there was a three-year waitlist so I fell back
was a three-year waitlist so I fell back
was a three-year waitlist so I fell back on my other plan to decided I was gonna
on my other plan to decided I was gonna
on my other plan to decided I was gonna move to the Bakken oil fields and drive
move to the Bakken oil fields and drive
move to the Bakken oil fields and drive truck and make money while I waited to
truck and make money while I waited to
truck and make money while I waited to go become a brewer but before I moved
go become a brewer but before I moved
go become a brewer but before I moved out there I came back to Helena and was
out there I came back to Helena and was
out there I came back to Helena and was having a beer with my wife and some
having a beer with my wife and some
having a beer with my wife and some friends at the Blackfoot and noticed a
friends at the Blackfoot and noticed a
friends at the Blackfoot and noticed a sign on the pucker machine that said
sign on the pucker machine that said
sign on the pucker machine that said wanted assistant brewer so we both got
wanted assistant brewer so we both got
wanted assistant brewer so we both got really excited staff especially she
really excited staff especially she
really excited staff especially she immediately introduced me to Tim the
immediately introduced me to Tim the
immediately introduced me to Tim the head brewer there and insisted that I
head brewer there and insisted that I
head brewer there and insisted that I apply I applied and got the job but um
apply I applied and got the job but um
apply I applied and got the job but um it was still a long road from where I’m
it was still a long road from where I’m
it was still a long road from where I’m at today anybody that’s ever brewed beer
at today anybody that’s ever brewed beer
at today anybody that’s ever brewed beer whether it’s homebrew professionally
whether it’s homebrew professionally
whether it’s homebrew professionally know that brewing is about 95 percent
know that brewing is about 95 percent
know that brewing is about 95 percent cleaning and sanitizing and that was
cleaning and sanitizing and that was
cleaning and sanitizing and that was definitely 100 percent of my job I
definitely 100 percent of my job I
definitely 100 percent of my job I started off I started off just cleaning
started off I started off just cleaning
started off I started off just cleaning kegs and tanks and occasionally kagan
kegs and tanks and occasionally kagan
kegs and tanks and occasionally kagan out some beer it was part-time
out some beer it was part-time
out some beer it was part-time and it didn’t pair pay nearly as much as
and it didn’t pair pay nearly as much as
and it didn’t pair pay nearly as much as teaching did so I had to take a second
teaching did so I had to take a second
teaching did so I had to take a second job in order to make ends meet
job in order to make ends meet
job in order to make ends meet I started waiting tables and bartending
I started waiting tables and bartending
I started waiting tables and bartending and the next two and a half years I had
and the next two and a half years I had
and the next two and a half years I had to keep that second job in order to to
to keep that second job in order to to
to keep that second job in order to to make it I’d worked 60 to 70 hours a week
make it I’d worked 60 to 70 hours a week
make it I’d worked 60 to 70 hours a week between the two jobs and usually only
between the two jobs and usually only
between the two jobs and usually only get about one or two days off per month
get about one or two days off per month
get about one or two days off per month it was a pretty rough time but on the
it was a pretty rough time but on the
it was a pretty rough time but on the other side of things at the black foot
other side of things at the black foot
other side of things at the black foot like the more I was there the more I
like the more I was there the more I
like the more I was there the more I learned I started learning how to brew
learned I started learning how to brew
learned I started learning how to brew and just really Dell or dove in to
and just really Dell or dove in to
and just really Dell or dove in to learning more about fermentation and
learning more about fermentation and
learning more about fermentation and brewing I go to conferences I’d read
brewing I go to conferences I’d read
brewing I go to conferences I’d read things I’d look at videos online
things I’d look at videos online
things I’d look at videos online anything I could do the more I learned
anything I could do the more I learned
anything I could do the more I learned the more I really began to love that job
the more I really began to love that job
the more I really began to love that job so after a couple of years I was
so after a couple of years I was
so after a couple of years I was promoted to brewer own is able to quit
promoted to brewer own is able to quit
promoted to brewer own is able to quit my quit my second job waiting tables and
my quit my second job waiting tables and
my quit my second job waiting tables and bartending and now cleaning was win 90%
bartending and now cleaning was win 90%
bartending and now cleaning was win 90% of my job not every day is perfect at
of my job not every day is perfect at
of my job not every day is perfect at the black foot but I really really love
the black foot but I really really love
the black foot but I really really love it
it
it I work longer hours for Less pay with
I work longer hours for Less pay with
I work longer hours for Less pay with worse benefits than I ever did as a
worse benefits than I ever did as a
worse benefits than I ever did as a teacher but I am infinitely happier as a
teacher but I am infinitely happier as a
teacher but I am infinitely happier as a physics and math nerd the creative
physics and math nerd the creative
physics and math nerd the creative process has always kind of eluded me I
process has always kind of eluded me I
process has always kind of eluded me I can’t write or sing or dance or paint or
can’t write or sing or dance or paint or
can’t write or sing or dance or paint or draw unless there’s a formula it tells
draw unless there’s a formula it tells
draw unless there’s a formula it tells me how to do it so brewing is kind of
me how to do it so brewing is kind of
me how to do it so brewing is kind of the perfect marriage of art and science
the perfect marriage of art and science
the perfect marriage of art and science there’s this foundation of fermentation
there’s this foundation of fermentation
there’s this foundation of fermentation that provides the framework for me to be
that provides the framework for me to be
that provides the framework for me to be creative in designing new recipes for
creative in designing new recipes for
creative in designing new recipes for new beers there’s over a hundred
new beers there’s over a hundred
new beers there’s over a hundred different recognized beer styles
different recognized beer styles
different recognized beer styles literally hundreds of varieties of yeast
literally hundreds of varieties of yeast
literally hundreds of varieties of yeast and bacteria and malt and hops which
and bacteria and malt and hops which
and bacteria and malt and hops which provides me with an endless
provides me with an endless
provides me with an endless opportunity to learn to be creative and
opportunity to learn to be creative and
opportunity to learn to be creative and to grow also I still could use my
to grow also I still could use my
to grow also I still could use my teaching skills as a brewer one of my
teaching skills as a brewer one of my
teaching skills as a brewer one of my favorite parts of my job is giving tours
favorite parts of my job is giving tours
favorite parts of my job is giving tours to people with a production facility and
to people with a production facility and
to people with a production facility and teaching them how we brew our beer at
teaching them how we brew our beer at
teaching them how we brew our beer at the Blackfoot I also love working brew
the Blackfoot I also love working brew
the Blackfoot I also love working brew fests talking with people about how what
fests talking with people about how what
fests talking with people about how what their favorite beers are how they brew
their favorite beers are how they brew
their favorite beers are how they brew them how we do them and just bouncing
them how we do them and just bouncing
them how we do them and just bouncing ideas I can talk for hours about beer my
ideas I can talk for hours about beer my
ideas I can talk for hours about beer my path to becoming Brewers was kind of a
path to becoming Brewers was kind of a
path to becoming Brewers was kind of a long and difficult one that took a lot
long and difficult one that took a lot
long and difficult one that took a lot of commitment when I was working those
of commitment when I was working those
of commitment when I was working those long long days it would have been really
long long days it would have been really
long long days it would have been really easy for me to just kind of fall back to
easy for me to just kind of fall back to
easy for me to just kind of fall back to the familiarity and apply for a teaching
the familiarity and apply for a teaching
the familiarity and apply for a teaching job and actually did that twice but
job and actually did that twice but
job and actually did that twice but thankfully I was drew from consideration
thankfully I was drew from consideration
thankfully I was drew from consideration at the last moment and decided to stay
at the last moment and decided to stay
at the last moment and decided to stay the difficult course and I was able to
the difficult course and I was able to
the difficult course and I was able to do that because I was following the
do that because I was following the
do that because I was following the dream I was following my folly changing
dream I was following my folly changing
dream I was following my folly changing careers can be a difficult and daunting
careers can be a difficult and daunting
careers can be a difficult and daunting thing to confront but if you’re
thing to confront but if you’re
thing to confront but if you’re following your folly it makes a lot
following your folly it makes a lot
following your folly it makes a lot easier thank you
”
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