Inspiring Conversations with Charles Toepfer of Pacific Brewing Supplies

Today we’d like to introduce you to Charles Toepfer.

Hi Charles, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I spent the first part of my career working in technology and web development. In 2012, I came across the building that would eventually become Pacific Brewing Supplies and saw an opportunity to create something with my family. Homebrewing and fermentation were a natural fit because they were things all three of us already enjoyed and understood.

We opened the shop in December 2013. For the first couple of years, I continued working in technology while helping build the business, and in September 2015 I left that career to run the shop full-time.

Today, I run Pacific Brewing Supplies with my parents, Janice and Randy Toepfer. My mom brings a strong culinary background and experience making mead, cider and cheese. My dad and I had both brewed beer, and I had also explored sake, kimchi and other fermentation projects. That range of interests has helped us serve people making everything from beer, wine, mead and cider to cheese, fermented foods and other homemade beverages.

It’s very much a family-run neighborhood shop—and that includes our two cats, Ilia and Sulu. Ilia, our black cat, has become the store mascot and is a familiar face to many customers. Sulu is much shyer and generally helps out after the shop is closed and everything is quiet.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It hasn’t always been a smooth road. The market is constantly changing, and one of our biggest challenges has been adapting without losing the character of a neighborhood business.

We made it through COVID relatively well, but more recently we’ve had to contend with substantial increases in the cost of merchandise and shipping. We’ve responded by broadening our supplier network, finding wholesale lots when possible, bringing in select used equipment and working with more local companies. That helps us control costs while supporting the local relationships that fit who we are as a business.

We’ve also broadened what the shop offers. With the new Metro A Line station next door, we’ve added drinks, candy and other grab-and-go items for commuters and people passing through the neighborhood. We’ve also experimented with complementary products such as ice cream, baking ingredients and kitchen equipment as we look for useful ways to serve both our existing customers and the wider community.

Within fermentation, customer interests continue to change. Beer brewing slowed noticeably last year, while mead grew in popularity. This year, beer appears to be gaining momentum again, and we’re seeing interest in things customers rarely asked about before, including sake, makgeolli, tej, tepache and other fermentation traditions.

The ongoing challenge is anticipating where people’s interests will go next and making sure we have the knowledge, ingredients and equipment to help them explore it.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Pacific Brewing Supplies is a family-owned home fermentation shop serving San Dimas and the surrounding communities. We provide ingredients, equipment and practical guidance for making beer, wine, mead, cider, sake, cheese and other fermented foods and beverages.

What sets us apart is the range of projects we can help with and the personal attention we give each customer. Someone may come in with a complete recipe, a piece of equipment that needs troubleshooting or simply an idea they aren’t sure how to begin. We can help them choose ingredients, understand the process and find an approach that fits their experience, space and budget. We serve everyone from first-time makers to experienced brewers and local clubs.

We’re also known for draft-beverage supplies and services that can be difficult to find elsewhere. We carry CO₂ tanks, kegs, regulators, keg fittings, faucets, beverage and gas tubing, replacement parts and other hardware needed to build, maintain or repair a draft system. We also offer CO₂ and nitrogen refills and exchanges, equipment rentals, specialty ingredients and select used equipment. When possible, we work with local suppliers and producers, both to reduce shipping costs and to keep more of what we do connected to the surrounding community.

What I’m most proud of is that we’ve remained a true neighborhood shop while continuing to adapt. We’ve introduced many people to fermentation, helped experienced customers take on ambitious projects and built relationships with customers who have returned for years. The shop is a place where people can find supplies, but also ask questions, exchange ideas and become part of a community built around making things themselves.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I’ve learned is that our real job isn’t simply to sell someone ingredients or equipment—it’s to help them have a positive experience and achieve the result they came in hoping for.

This business is very different from the more competitive technology world where I began my career. Most people who walk into the shop are happy to be there because they’re pursuing something they enjoy. Their projects can be creative, experimental and deeply personal, and people take them on for all sorts of reasons. That means respecting each customer’s goals and putting real thought into what we recommend, rather than merely selling them something.

It can be challenging because there’s often one more detail that might help. I still sometimes watch someone leave and think, “I should have mentioned this,” or “I should have included that little part.” I try to give every customer my best effort, while recognizing that some days I’ll do that better than others.

I’m also continually reminded that expertise isn’t a one-way street. I’m still learning, and I learn a great deal from our customers—some of whom have gone on to become professionals. Staying curious, listening carefully and genuinely caring about someone else’s success have probably been the most valuable lessons of the entire journey.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pacific.supplies/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pacificbrewingsupplies
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pacificbrewingsupplies
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/pacific-brewing-supplies/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PacificBrewingSuppliesSanDimas
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/pacific-brewing-supplies-san-dimas