Community Highlights: Meet Kathy and Geoff DeBisschop of Central 28 Beer Co

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kathy and Geoff DeBisschop.

Hi Kathy and Geoff, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Geoff and I had been visiting family in Central Florida for years. We both worked for a few other breweries up north in Massachusetts and then also in Maryland. Geoff has been brewing professionally now for over 25 years so he’s a pretty large factor on how the decision to do this came about. When we started thinking about opening a brewery, we all felt that Central FL was a great place to do that.

We started planning it years before we could make it happen. Family vacations turned into us driving around looking at buildings, warehouses and towns, thinking about what would work best We really liked the vibe of DeBary. The green space out here, the disc golf course, the bike trail, the water and also the city embracing us as part of the community felt right for us. Our main focus since the beginning has been on our beer- we brew classic styles with a moderen approach. Our goal everyday is to brew great beer that helps build a strong community. That community is our customers and our employees that make all this work Every batch we brew is brewed with love and care in DeBary, FL.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
One of the biggest challenges is also something that makes craft brewing so fun- working in a dynamic, constantly changing industry. The craft beer marketplace is a relatively new space, and evolving at an incredibly rapid pace, so the challenges can shift very, very quickly. For example, towards the beginning of Central 28, one of the biggest challenges was education and awareness- not just in terms of Central 28, but the craft beer segment as a whole. As craft beer consumers and retailers have grown to love craft beer, this is not the challenge it once was- but as more and more breweries have opened, standing out in an increasingly crowded market has emerged as a new challenge.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
Central 28 Beer Company is a family-owned brewery in DeBary, FL. Our family has played a huge role in the growth and success of our brewery. We specialize in brewing craft beer that is extremely drinkable but loaded with flavor. One of the things we feel most proud of is that we do not use extracts or artificial ingredients in any of our beers. That is fun for us, and for us, that was important out of the gate. Our brand is consistent and approachable and maybe that sounds simple, but it’s not as easy as it sounds. A lot can hide in a beer and getting clean and consistent products is what we love about the beers we brew.

What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
In the excitement of opening, it was tempting and somewhat unrealistic to think that everything in our business would reflect our vision immediately. That takes time. We’ve learned it’s a marathon, not a sprint, and that constant improvement on a daily basis is the true path to achieving our goals. Sounds cliche I guess but it’s the truth. 🙂

Contact Info:

• Email: kathy@central28beer.com
• Website: central28beer.com
• Instagram: @central28beer
• Facebook: Central 28 Beer Co.
• Twitter: @Central28Beer

Image Credits
Jillian Quain Mary St.Pierre