Woodland Hills, CA
In 2000, active duty Los Angeles-based firefighter/paramedics, Rob Nowaczyk and Ed Walker were up on a hillside after extinguishing a brushfire in the Glendale Mountains. They were tired, super-thirsty and dreaming of a cold beer to quench their thirst. Rob turned to his partner and said, “Why don’t we make our own beer?” In that brief moment, the idea for Fireman’s Brew was born.
Shortly afterwards, Rob and Ed started homebrewing, and after months of trials, mistakes and refining, Fireman’s Brew: Blonde (pilsener-style lager) was born. They bottled their first case and shared it with their friends. They knew they were on to something when people started asking for more and even offering to buy some.
In early 2007, Rob and Ed decided to turn their homebrewing hobby into something more, connecting with family and friends who shared their vision and had the expertise to turn their fledgling start-up into a viable company. Over the next few years, Fireman’s Brew would quickly grow from a couple guys delivering beer out of their trunks, to a handful of accounts, to more than 1,000 accounts and distribution to 14 states.
Origins
“In those early days, beers from Anchor Brewing, Samuel Adams and Sierra Nevada inspired me to believe that craft beers could be accessible while having a more premium, handcrafted quality and taste,” said Nowaczyk.
He never would have thought that he would one day be presiding over a successful brewery, hosting fun runs for charity and having product placement on hit TV shows like the Big Bang Theory, Mike & Molly and Two and a Half Men!
Handcrafted Fireman’s Brew
Fireman’s Brew is always experimenting with new styles and flavor profiles, but their existing stable of tasty beers include Blonde a Pilsener-style lager, Redhead amber ale and Brunette, a dark and rich eye-opening doublebock. When asked how Fireman’s brew create their signature beers Rob shared:
“Quite honestly our three signature Fireman’s Brew beers—Blonde, Redhead and Brunette—are all styles of beer that we like to drink. As we start to explore and develop new flavors, we’ll continue to brew beers that we enjoy drinking that align with the qualities of who we are as a company and brand.”
Fireman’s Brew Gives Back
Many brewers are some of the most charitable people you will meet, but the folks at Fireman’s Brew really go the extra mile. They are adamantly dedicated to giving back to the firefighter community. On top charitable efforts throughout the year, Fireman’s proudly donates a portion of their profits to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation.
“At Fireman’s Brew, we are extremely active in connecting and developing our brand and expanding our fan base,” said Nowaczyk. “In addition to traditional beer festivals and tasting events, we continually partner with the local firefighter community and other charities through events, fundraisers, golf tournaments and more. A great example of this is the American Hot Shots Extreme Run—a three and 10-mile extreme mud run with obstacles inspired by firefighters. One hundred percent of the event’s proceeds go to the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation, the 100 Club and the Wildland Firefighter Foundation.”
Fireman’s Brew: Something to Be Proud Of
Like their firefighter heritage, all of Fireman’s beers are made with two thoughts in mind—quality and strength. They use only the finest all-natural ingredients to create handcrafted beers with rich, full-flavored taste and accessible, easy drinking refreshment.
“We’re real firefighters working together to build a business,” said Nowaczyk. “Whenever we meet people out at our local beer fests, they always ask us if we’re really firefighters—and it’s true. It’s a great way to make a personal connection to our local communities and share stories with them over a great-tasting beer.”
There’s so much to learn and so many great people to meet when you visit and learn about craft breweries. Take the time to meet the people who make your beer. Fireman’s Brew is something special out of an industry full of friendly, interesting and wonderful people.
Allan Wolfe is a craft beer brewer, reviewer and whisky connoisseur who also runs BeerandWhiskeyHQ.com. Allan’s passion is finding out why and how different beers taste the way they do. Besides brewing, you’ll find him playing music, reading books, playing with his dogs and enjoying his favorite pint or dram. He’s always open to answering questions, talking beer or teaching anyone who is willing to listen about distilling!
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