This article first appeared in Yankee Brew News
Erika is the founder and owner of Post & Beam Brewing Co., established in 2018. Erika manages all facets of the business, from brewing and taproom operations to financial oversight and customer engagement, ensuring every aspect aligns with her commitment to craftsmanship and sustainability. An active leader in the industry, she serves on the executive board of the New Hampshire Brewers, and her dedication has cultivated a truly cherished community hub in in Peterborough, New Hampshire!
Can you tell me about your background, and why you chose to take the leap into the craft beer industry?
I went to college for literature and philosophy (and I like to joke that with those focuses, I obviously ended up in the beer world). Prior to opening the brewery, I was the managing editor for an auction company. I loved the work, but as a person who never learned to say ‘no,’ I ended up piling so much on my plate there that I was working non-stop. I finally decided that if I was going to be someone who worked seven days a week, I wanted it to be for myself and not a company that didn’t appreciate it. Craft beer was a long-time passion, and at the time I had a partner who was an incredible homebrewer and willing to jump onboard. I knew that there was a need for the type of environment I wanted to create—both in Peterborough, and in the craft beer industry as a whole—and that another woman taking a place in this industry would be a good thing. I was also old enough that I felt confident in my experience and skillset, and young enough that if I failed, I would have been able to bounce back. So I did it!
When designing the Post & Beam environment, what did you aspire to create, or want to ensure that people experienced? What do you want them to walk away thinking, feeling, experiencing?
The primary goal from day one was to create a cozy, timeless space where every single person felt welcomed and valued. As a woman who has always enjoyed going to bars but often felt uncomfortable or nervous sitting at one alone, it was crucial that the space feel safe and friendly. Peterborough is such a cool town, with so many fascinating people making and doing their own thing; I wanted to build a space where they could sit down and meet each other, connect over a beer, develop friendships with neighbors they may have never met otherwise. My hope is that everyone leaves feeling like they had a unique and worthwhile experience, and that they are (or can be) more connected to their community than they knew.
What makes a beer a “Post & Beam” beer, in your opinion? Clean, fresh takes on traditional styles. I have a lot of respect for breweries that are pushing the style boundaries and creating wild new beers, out-hopping one another, experimenting with new things, but that’s not us. We embrace the history of beer and love bringing classics into the modern world, showing people why the traditional beers have stood the test of time.
What’s a beer that you’re especially proud to serve? If you could recommend one beer for a new guest to try, what would you recommend? I like to begin by asking people which way their tastes lean: for the ‘beer-flavored beer’ drinkers, I’d currently recommend our American Pilsner Paper Rings. It really highlights a remarkable pilsner malt from Root Shoot Malting that brings so much depth to a simple beer. For those who prefer light beers and are open to trying something unfamiliar, I always recommend our grisette Butcher Holler. It is a traditional Belgian beer, refreshing and dry with some beautiful light spice notes from the yeast (my go-to gardening beer every summer). And for those who lean towards the dark beers, our dry stout, Bandit Hat, is a must-drink (my personal all-time favorite). Roasty and balanced, it packs an amazing amount of flavor into a 4.2% beer, satisfying the craving for something comforting and dark without the high alcohol that makes some other dark styles one-and-dones.
In doing research, I noted in an article that you work to foster a supportive and inclusive workplace for your staff. Can you tell me a little more about how you do that? My staff is my family. They have put their faith in me as their leader, and I don’t take that lightly. I am so grateful to have their support, hard work, reliability, and absolute unique personalities—I try to remember every day to show them how appreciated they are. That means when they are doing great, they get the different forms of reward and recognition they deserve; and it means when they aren’t at their best, they receive the support they need to get through whatever is holding them back. Post & Beam wouldn’t be what it is without each of the individuals that contributes to it.
Do you have any announcements, events, upcoming releases, etc. you’d like the readers to know about? We’ve just held our first collaborative dinner event with our friends Doug and Liz Higley from Blackfire Farm. In addition to farming multiple plots of land, they own and operate a wood-fired pizza trailer that serves our guests Friday–Sunday, putting out some of the most delicious pizza you’ll ever taste using their own meats and produce (and sourcing whatever they don’t grow/raise themselves from other local farms). A formally trained chef, Doug has so much more to offer than just pizza, so this month we held a dinner in the taproom to show his amazing range of skill. We carefully designed the seven-course menu together, pairing each dish with the perfect beer to bring out the best flavors in each. It was a great success, and we’re planning to host these dinners seasonally to highlight the different ingredients as they reach their peaks.
Post & Beam Brewing
40 Grove Street, Peterborough, New Hampshire
