Mother's Brewing - Update - Interview with Jeremy Wicks

For the next three weeks, I’ll be posting an interview with a different member of the leadership team at Mother’s Brewing Company each week.  First up is the Director of Sales and Marketing, Jeremy Wicks.  Jeremy currently acts as the face of Mother’s Brewing for most purposes, and his energy is what drives the social media presence and website of Mother’s Brewing Company.  I spoke with Jeremy about Mother’s Brewing, the importance of bringing a production brewery to downtown Springfield, and why Mother’s wants so badly to be a part of your life.

St. Ange Brewing: First, could you please provide a rundown of what Mother’s will offer to customers?

Jeremy Wicks: We will have a 30 bbl brewhouse with an annual capacity of 5,000 bbls.  We recently received 4 30bbl aging tanks which we are very excited about. This will give us the ability to not only age and make some bigger beers, but we will be able to do this without impacting the production of our everyday beers. We will begin with 3 beers with a 4th, a summer seasonal, quickly to follow.

We will also have a tasting room with limited hours. We will offer tours, tastings, and sell some retail items such as growlers, t-shirts, hats, pint glasses, etc… On top of that, we just planted 12 trees in the backyard. Once the weather warms up a bit, we plan on hosting a few outdoor events that will coincide with the release of new beers. We will bring in local music, art, and food to make these events unique to Springfield. We’re still planning the details, but the events are something that we are really excited about.

SAB: Why do you feel it is important to be located in the downtown area?

JW: First off, we love downtown Springfield. Downtown has seen tremendous growth in recent years and we want to be a part of that and help the growth continue. The energy in downtown is unlike any other place in Springfield. We hope Mother’s can help add to this energy.

SAB: What makes now a good time to be opening a brewery in Springfield?

JW: Just like Springfield, craft beer continues to grow.

SAB: How important do you feel it is that Springfield feels a connection with Mother’s Brewing Company?  Why is it important?

JW: It’s very important and we want to be a major part of the city. We want to create good jobs for great people. We want to be part of local events and support all things local. We have big plans for Mother’s and to reach our goals, it is very important that we can be connected to the city and to all of the city’s great residents. Springfield is a great city and we hope to make this city proud.

SAB: How do you plan on helping Springfield to become more connected to Mother’s Brewing Company?

JW:  First, by being a great corporate citizen and positive representative of Springfield. We want and plan to get involved with as many community events as we possibly can. We want to be part of the fabric of the city. We also have plans to host 2 or 3 events in our back yard every year. This would include music, food, art, and an overall great atmosphere for people get together and have fun.

SAB: Where did the name “Mother’s Brewing Company” come from?

JW: First, we really wanted a name that was easy to say and easy to remember. We also wanted a name that would communicate the love and commitment that’s required to create really great beers.

When we were first discussing names one option that popped up was Mother Road because the brewery sits on old Route 66. Mother Road didn’t make the cut, but Mother’s was a natural spin off.  It’s easy to say, easy to remember and there’s no love like a Mother’s love. It's a perfect fit for how we feel about craft beer and for the love and energy that we put into creating all of our beers.

SAB: What is the significance of the logo?

JW: It’s an iconic image. A lot of people have seen the old heart tattoo with “Mom” tattooed inside. With a name like Mother’s we felt it was a perfect fit.

SAB: While I’m sure you hope that Mother’s Brewing Company will be financially successful, you probably have other goals, as well. What are your other goals for Mother’s?

JW: We want to create really great jobs for great people. We want to create a product that we are proud of, that the city is proud of, and that receives industry recognition. We want to hold tight to our core values and have fun along the way. If we can create great jobs, create a product that we love, and have fun along the way, I’d say we would all be happy.

SAB: Choosing a good team for your brewery is very important.  What do you feel is the key ingredient you, Jeff, and Brian each bring to Mother’s Brewing Company?

JW: I think the key ingredient is that we have all become great friends. We’re like a family. We each bring something special to the table that is required to reach our goals. Mother’s is a family and without one of us, the family is incomplete.

SAB: When your brewery has been open for a year and everything is going well, what do you hope your customers associate with your brewery and your beer?

JW: Great beer, great people doing what they love.

SAB: The flavor of a beer a beer is affected as much by the situation as it is by the beer itself.  For instance, you may remember a single glass of beer because of the people you were with when you drank it, or because of something that was happening at the time you drank it.  What is your favorite beer you’ve ever drunk, and why was it memorable?

JW: My favorite beer was the beer that I shared with my best friend and my brother-in-law right after my daughter was born. It was a Dreadnaught, Imperial IPA, by Three Floyds. I had been saving that beer for that exact occasion. It was a time for celebration and it was with two of the greatest guys that I know. It was cold outside, but we all stood in the parking lot of the hospital and passed that 22 oz. bottle around, laughed and talked about becoming a dad. I enjoyed and can remember every last drop or that beer. I will never forget that day or that beer for as long as I live.