Exploring Life & Business with Brit Brouhard of Naughty Pine Brewing Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Brit Brouhard.

Hi Brit, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I started home brewing with my now husband during our college days at Cal Lutheran University. I graduated in 2011 with a Bachelor of Science in Exercise Science and Sports Medicine. Together we co-founded and co-opened our first brewery in Maui, Hawaii in 2013, Lahaina Brewery. After that, I became the Lead Brewer/Brew Chief and worked up to running the brewing production and bioscience laboratory at Enegren Brewing Company in Moorpark, CA from 2016-2020. At the end of 2020, I ventured off to start my own brewery in Westlake Village, CA. Over the years. I have taken Microbiology and Yeast Handling Courses at UC Davis, passed the brewers certificate at Siebel, and completed courses for my diploma in brewing and entered the Master’s Program in Bioscience & Engineering for Brewing & Distilling at Harriott Watt University in Edinburg, Scotland.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Opening any small business has its struggles. I dove head-first into this project mid-pandemic, so the challenges I faced had more to do with supply chain issues, closures of city offices, and general restrictions.

As you know, we’re big fans of Naughty Pine Brewing Co.. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
The story behind the name Naughty Pine Brewing Company is one of comedy. While sitting around the fire during a power outage one night, founder and Head Brewer Brittany Brouhard was chatting and laughing with friends and neighbors about how everyone spells their street, Knotty Pine, the “naughty” way and therefore can never find their house. The question of someday wanting her own brewery came up, and someone said, “Hey, Naughty Pine… that would be a great brewery name.” Jokes ensued about all the of “sappy” names for beers and merchandise. And so it was! The concept for Naughty Pine Brewing Company was born. The name represents the street we live on, our home, and the family and friends who have supported us on this journey.

Our flagship Bohemian Pilsner, Sturdy-B Pils, is my pride and joy and what we’ve become known for. Along with the fact that we brew small batch (7 BBL system) brews allowing us to use style-specific yeast strains for each of our speciality seasonal batch beers, something that many breweries don’t have the luxury to do due to the higher volumes they brew. It provides such a unique and fun menu. And of course, our love of all things Peaky Blinders and Emo Music!

Our interior is a cozy, 1920’s themed brewery with a working fireplace and all. My dream for opening this place was to have a spot that was known as much for its beer as it is for its music scene. We have really started to build an amazing community of musicians since we opened up. We have a wide variety of beers on the board, with an emphasis on European styles, and usually always have 2-3 Belgian Beers rotating.

While our tasting room is more on the quaint side, we have a very nice, spacious patio out back equipped with darts, corn hole, jenga, and more. There are games spread all throughout our brewery as well, as our focus is really on bringing people together over beer, conversation, live music and fun times. We do Open Mic Night every Tuesday, different events such as Comedy and Game Nights on Wednesdays, Trivia Thursdays, and live music all weekend long! Once a year, we hold an Emo Fest in our parking that brings together bands from all over Southern California for one emotional, rocking day.

Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
You have to take risks in life. Especially when opening your own business, that is a risk in itself. It’s finding the balance and understanding the difference between risk and reckless that’s the key. It was a huge risk to throw a massive music/beer festival last summer centered around emo/punk music having no idea how anyone would respond. But it was such a huge success we now do regular emo nights and have an even bigger festival in store for this summer. Without risk, there’s no reward. Doesn’t mean it’s not scary sometimes though lol.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.naughtypinebrewingco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/naughtypinebrewing/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NPBCbeer
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@naughtypinebrewing 

Image Credits
Wylie Withers – Booze League