Today we’d like to introduce you to Heide Mahnke
Hi Heide, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Opening a brewery allowed me to embrace my creative side as well as give back to the community. I wanted to create an inviting environment where people could go to drink good beer and meet their new best friends. Since I love ghost towns and the Old West, I decorated both locations to reflect an Old West theme. The Placentia location resembles an old hotel lobby, and the Anaheim location resembles a town, complete with a train! Most of the wood work I did myself.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Broken Timbers opened in May 2020, during the height of the pandemic. Keeping up with the ever changing mandates proved to be the most difficult part. We opened by selling cans to go. At that time, no one had ever tasted Broken Timbers’ beer. The tremendous community support helped us get through the worst part. But, today, we still fill the effects. With rising grocery and gas prices, people do not go out to eat or to drink as often. We are a luxury item and, therefore, people frequent breweries right now less than they might have before the pandemic.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
At Broken Timbers, we are known for our personal service and great beer. We maintain a varied menu, with several flagships beers, as well as several rotational ones. We like to say we have something for everyone, including the non beer drinkers. Our Huck-a-Pine Seltzer brings people back time after time. Made from 100% Huckleberries and Pineapples, we do not add any sugar or artificial ingredients.
People who come in know we will welcome them every time. We offer great conversation or a place to sit quietly and finish the day’s work. Many of our customers have commented that they love the atmosphere we all create for them and that they cannot find it elsewhere.
How do you think about luck?
The bad luck is that Covid happened. No one could prepare anyone for that. But I like to think my determination and the talents of the Brewer (my partner) supersede luck. I am lucky, though, to have found a great staff and partner to work with. I have the best team! And, for that, I am lucky!
Pricing:
- Beers are $7 to $10
- We offer discounts on 4 packs of cans
- We offer a discount to Police, Fire and Military personnel
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.brokentimbersbrewingcompany.com
- Instagram: @brokentimbers.anaheim and @brokentimbers.placentia
Image Credits
Heide Mahnke
