Round Guys: A Shift in the 'Why'

Scott Rudich•

Nearly seven years ago, the doors of Round Guys Brewing Company opened. I started down the path to opening a brewery in 2009, and I’ve been opening and/or running a brewery for the last 10 years—nearly 39 percent of my adult drinking life.

People often ask me why I opened a brewery. Recently, I stumbled upon a Ted Talk by Simon Sinek called "Start with Why,” and I realized that my reasons for opening the brewery may no longer be the reasons why I am still doing this after all these years. Did I understand my why?

The notion of opening a brewery was a "Eureka!” moment. It created purpose in life, and it gave me a challenge. It gave me a vehicle to create and call something of my own. In early 2009, this was my why.

Fast forward 10 years, and the optics start to change. I found myself wondering, "Why am I still doing this?” The beer industry has changed dramatically. New breweries are opening everywhere. Beer consumption across the board is down. Millennial's are drinking more wine, or not drinking at all. In 10 years, things have changed a lot.

In an effort to seek some direction, I called on a few colleagues. Brewers tend to be open and honest, and I found that many of my fellow brewers had the same questions. They too were asking the same questions. While it felt good that I was not alone, I was not any closer to an answer. Then, a few Taco Tuesdays ago, everything changed.

I was working in the brewery, and my family had come in to have dinner with me. I took a moment to peek into the pub and it was packed. Much to my dismay, there were not enough seats for the five of us to have tacos, so we ordered our tacos and retreated to the brewery area. Sitting on a bourbon barrel with my daughters eating tacos on the forklift, and the sacks of grain, and my wife and son eating at my desk, I had another "Eureka!” moment: this was my why.

I don’t know if Round Guys we will be open for another two years or 20 years, but that night, like many other nights past and present, the pub was filled with happy customers and smiling staff. Through the simple act of brewing beer and working hard, I had created a place for people to be happy, and I could not ask for a better reason why.

Scott Rudich is the head brewer and co-owner of Round Guys Brewing in Lansdale, PA. Rudich is heavily involved in the local beer scene, and was awarded the Brewer Award at the 2013 StarChefs’ Philadelphia Rising Stars Gala. If you have any questions or comments, please email them to [email protected].