Today we’d like to introduce you to Sean Syverson.
Hi Sean, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
Midlife Crisis, Perhaps?
Some people buy a sportscar. John Kapla and I decided to buy a brewery. When John and I began sharing our love of craft beer and homebrewing together, we lived approximately 6,302 miles apart. I was a high school English teacher working at Seoul International School, and John was living in Maple Grove, MN, working as a full-time musician and managing the shipping/receiving docks at Macy’s. Once the music stopped for John and the wear and tear of teaching wore on me, we both started talking about alternative means of employment. Teacher and musician to brewery owners and operators armed with homebrewing experience only? Why not?! I still have the email that I sent John pitching the idea of opening up a brewery, chasing that dream of being self-employed.
Business in the Time of Covid-19: A Survival Guide
Adversity comes to small businesses in many forms, but we did not expect to be impacted by a global pandemic. We were on schedule to have the beer flowing out of our taps by March 2020, or so we thought. Sometime in the middle of January, the words “global pandemic” began flowing way more freely than any beer, and John and I quickly knew we were going to have to pivot. As public ordinances were implemented restricting in-person gatherings and businesses were shutting down, we quickly put in money to purchase a single can seamer so that we’d have a means of selling our product. On April 30, 2020, we sold our first beer through a plexiglass smugglers hole in a door. People lined up six feet apart outside our entryway, and that’s basically how we survived our first year of business. We never fully opened our taproom until April of 2021. I am proud to say we never missed a rent payment or any other payment during that year, and we owe that to our community for keeping our business alive.
A Shot of Youthful Vigor
In the Spring of 2021, John and I hired our first full-time employee, and now part owner, Nic Bordwell. I remember talking to Nic about beer on a regular basis with a plate of plexiglass between us, almost like he was visiting a poor inmate locked up in the big house. Naturally, we convinced him to ditch his stable job, take a $14,000 pay cut, and become our full time brewer. And we’re lucky he did because Nic is the driving force behind Swing Barrel Brewing Co.’s beer. Not more than a year later, we decided to bring on Nic’s buddy, Cole Field, who is also a co-owner in the brewery now. Nic and Cole also had a dream to own and operate a brewery together that began in their college days, so we all decided to combine our dreams together to make Swing Barrel Brewing Co. a business driven by these core values: Philanthropy, Passion, Integrity, and Collaboration.
A Brewery to Help Rebuild Center Ave
Guided by our core values, Swing Barrel’s mission is to be a positive driving force in the community, and beer and services are Swing Barrel’s vessel that allows us to bring change to our community. Throughout our taproom’s existence, it has served as a venue for live music, bridal showers, a multitude of partnered fundraising events, yoga and zumba instruction, wakes, a parade warming house, retirement – birthday – wedding parties, and just about any other occasion one can imagine. We pride ourselves on the connections and impacts we have made in our community. We have partnered with Zoltar Tattoo, Lake Agassize Regional Library / Moorhead Public Library, Rustica Eatery & Tavern, Moorhead Youth Baseball and Hockey, YWCA Cass-Clay, 4 Luv of Dog Rescue, Plants for Patients, and Moorhead High School Visual Arts Dept., The Armory Event Center, Starbird Lounge, MSUM Alumni Association, Concordia Cobbers Football, Great Harvest Bread Co., Etc. There is no place we’d rather be than in the middle of a rebuilding downtown Moorhead. We truly feel like we are an integral part of this revitalization, and we aim to keep it that way.
So What Have We Done?
Through all the adversity (Global Pandemic, Limited Covid Relief Funds due to no 2019 tax records, Continuous Road Construction, Etc), Swing Barrel Brewing Company has driven itself to becoming a mainstay brewery in the F-M area, producing products that proudly stand alongside its competitors. We have grown our social media to over 7,000 followers, and the numbers continue to trend upward. We also continue to steadily grow our distribution network throughout Minnesota and North Dakota.
Above all, we have created an inviting taproom of which Moorhead and the greater Fargo area can be proud. We make fantastic beer, welcome all people, provide lively events that help this community make memories, and strive to promote the arts and entertainment that make life worth living. Swing Barrel Brewing Company is not simply a brewery that sells beer to make money. It’s a lifestyle of quality, inclusion, diversity, and genuine care for others. It truly is a reflection of all of us who work here.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Please refer to the Global Pandemic part referred to in the last question.
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?
Swing Barrel Brewing Co is an independently-owned and operated craft brewery located in the heart of downtown Moorhead, MN. We offer a wide selection of beers, provide musical entertainment on a regular basis, and work hand-in-hand with many community organizations to bring events for multiple causes to the area.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
Craft Breweries are well-aware of shifting trends, so it is essential that our business builds itself on culture and quality. We focus on culture first to make sure we are working for the reasons that matter. We ensure quality because that is our reputation. Culture and quality never go out of style, so with those solid foundations, our business is able to withstand any shifts in the market. We are always prepared to pivot when necessary, yet still maintain our integrity that defines our identity.
Pricing:
- Avg. beer/pint price is $7 – $8.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.swingbarrelbrew.com/
- Instagram: @swingbarrelbrew
- Facebook: Swing Barrel Brewing Company, LLC
