Today we’d like to introduce you to Agustin Ruelas.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I have a background in community organizing and community economic development working for social justice organizations for over 15 years. A little over ten years ago, my family members (my cousins Raul and Isaac, my brother Adrian and sister Evelyn) and close friends (Adrian and jimmy) decided we would start home brewing. Initially, we didn’t believe that it was even possible to brew our own beer, but as soon as we made our first batch with the assistance of a good friend, we went out and started purchasing our own equipment and creating our own recipes.
In 2014 with the networks we had developed in the nonprofit world, we started donating our beer to nonprofit fundraisers in and around L.A. and L.A. County. By 2018 we had donated beer to over 30 different L.A. County-based nonprofit organizations doing work in social justice, community development, education and the arts to name a few. From this point on, we developed a strong following while doing good in the community.
Along the way, we also co-founded SoCal Cerveceros (SCC), the largest Latino Homebrewers Club in the country, and worked with breweries in three different counties to put out collaboration beers. It all culminated in us opening the first brewery and taproom in the city of Pico Rivera on November 15, 2019.
COVID-19 has really slowed us down as our taproom has been shuttered for close to 7 months this year. We still were able to continue working with community organizations by donating to the ACLU and BLM earlier this year as well as making a collaboration beer with SCC members Norwalk Brewhouse and South Central Brewing Company called Los Vendors, with artwork by famed cartoonist Lalo Alcaraz, that benefitted the Los Angeles Street Vendor Campaign.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Not having an education in brewing, we had to learn on our own along the way or lean on experienced homebrewers and established breweries to expand our knowledge and improve our beer.
Not coming from money, we also struggled to raise money and had to bring together more than a dozen founders, family and friends to make the brewery a reality.
And of course COVID-19 coming only five months after we opened really derailed our plans to build up our base of craft beer lovers. We had to completely pivot our business model to to-go only and minimize costs as much as possible.
Please tell us about Brewjeria Company.
We are one of the few Latino and POC owned breweries in Southern California and the US. We are proud of the fact that we can be an example to other minority-owned businesses that it is possible and that it can be done.
We brew small-batch craft brews focusing on Belgian style ales, IPAs, light and dark ales. Our most popular beer is Tomo la Flor Hibiscus Pale Ale, a hibiscus infused pale ale that is refreshing and vibrantly red. It is the first of our beers to be packaged in cans and distributed in the LA area. We are also known for being active in the community and supporting nonprofit organizations throughout the years whether as homebrewers or now as a commercial operation.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
I remember that my maternal grandmother’s house in San Diego was a neighborhood hub and a business enterprise created and run by her. She raised a large family by selling candy, snacks and food to the neighborhood, by driving to Downtown LA to buy wholesale clothing and accessories that she also sold to families throughout the neighborhood as well as leasing a duplex behind her house at a reduced price so that friends and family that were trying to lay down roots in the US could save up a little money to establish themselves.
Contact Info:
- Address: 4937 Durfee Ave., Pico Rivera, CA 90660
- Website: www.brewjeriacompany.com
- Phone: 562-641-9720
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/brewjeriacompany
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/brewjeriacompany
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/brewjeriaco
- Yelp: www.yelp.com/biz/brewjeria-company-pico-rivera
- Other: https://untappd.com/BrewjeriaCompany
Image Credit:
Brewjeria Crew – Mike Dennis, Action and Beer Shots – Sal Castrejon
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