EP-411 Jay & Ciara Jones of Woven Water Brewing Company

“The thicker, the better” sounds like something I would say about my
thighs, but not necessarily about beer. But that’s exactly how Woven Water
Brewing Company describes their infamous “fusion” concoctions, which are
smoothie-style sours with flavors like peanut butter and jelly, banana
split, and peach orange pop ice cream. That’s not all they brew, but this
type of eye-catching beverage is what has put the Tampa brewery on the map
and what owners Jay and Ciara Jones say keep them in business.

In this episode, I chat with both owners, who launched the brewery with
Nicole and Eric Childs in August 2020, and have since assumed complete
ownership. You’ll hear them describe their “adapt or die” mentality, and
why despite Jay’s initial reluctance to brew what some might call “hype”
beers or hard seltzers, they quickly realized it’s what people want to
drink, so why not give it to them? It’s a refreshingly pragmatic approach
to business, and they’re having fun with it, even hosting a tap takeover of
the gloopiest, gloppiest beers from around the country in a celebration
they call Gloop City, which is now in its third year.

But all silliness aside, this conversation is a look at a brewery that was
poised to launch at the start of the pandemic, and what they had to do and
change in order to open in what they believe is the best craft beer scene
in the country. They share what worked, what didn’t, what they would do
differently if they had to do it all over again, and what they hope to
accomplish in the future. Jay and Ciara say they’re investing in a few key
areas: their people, their community, and in their ability to grow and
change. That sounds like a solid plan to me. So, let’s hear about it, right
now.