The Los Angeles brewing scene is bubbling with up-and-comers at all stages of development. Add Three Weavers Brewing Co. to the growing list that includes Dry River, Pacific Plate and Congregation.  You can follow the progress of the brewery that Lynne Weaver and her crew are planning on her blog and learn about their Umami take on craft beer in the interview below. As their logo shows, they are going to weave different ideas into craft beer.

What is the back story of Three Weavers?

Three Weavers is all about spending time with family and friends.  We hope to encourage others to gather over some awesome food and Three Weavers Umami Beer™.  Jonathan and I love to share things we discover as well as create.  Sharing great food and beer brings everyone together for some super fun quality time.  I love to brew and it is also important to me to show my three girls (the three weavers) the importance of pursuing things you enjoy.  Craft beer is a fun lifestyle regardless of brewing at the home brewer level or being part of the craft beer industry.

Is there anybody who mentored you along the way? If so, what did they teach you that was so valuable?

I have made some great friends along the way in starting Three Weavers.  We have not had any one mentor, but several.  Joe Lane is opening up a brewpub in Bishop, CA.  It has been great to be going through the whole process with someone else at the same time.  I learned that I don’t need to reinvent the wheel, if you ask, someone will point you in the right direction.  We have been sharing notes, helping out with each other’s business plans, SBA loans, you name it.  Mike Lanzarotta is our real estate agent and former brewer/owner of Crown City.  He has been a great help in locating a place in this tight LA market.  I learned to not set your heart on a specific location, as it may not work out.  We are still deciding on our manufacturer for our brew house. Manufacturers all have references, call those brewery references and you will get an honest opinion of about the equipment.  You can always ask a couple of questions outside the realm of the equipment that they will answer.

What was the first beer you ever brewed, and how did it turn out?

When I decided to start home brewing, I went all grain. I wanted to learn the brewing process as a whole.  Thus I made what as become Sanity Pale Ale.  It was and still is Awesome!  I have not changed the recipe to this day.

What’s the criteria for a beer that is brewed at Three Weavers? What does a beer have to be?

All the beer we brew is what we call Umami Beer™.  I am Japanese and I brew with Japanese adjuncts to create Umami Beer™.  Umami Beer™ has balanced flavor.  It is clean on the palate without any off-favors.

Where do you go for craft beer on the westside?

Cinco in Playa Del Rey is a great supporter of LA Beers.  Great food too.

What hurdle to opening a brewery do most craft beer fans not know about?

You need more than a great recipe for beer to open up a brewery.  You have got to understand why you are opening up a brewery so your patrons can connect with you and build loyalty (think Apple).  You have got to have a strong business background or you will end up delayed more ways that you want to count.  Like any business, it is about planning, how well you plan and foresee any future hurdles before you trip on them.

Where do you see the Los Angeles craft beer scene in 5 years?

I hope to see the LA craft beer industry grow.  The biggest problem for LA is real estate.  It is hard to find a place that allows a brewery in it’s zoning and that people feel safe going to at night.  Most of the industrial locations that are desirable have been converted into Urban office spaces where the landlords can get $3 a square foot.
We are considering some contract brewers in hopes to bring in more local beer to the area.

If you could only drink one more beer, and you couldn’t brew it, what would it be and why?

Hard one…Right now?  I have to say BarrelHouse in Paso Robles has a off the hook Ginger Honey ale that I LOVE!  The brew master George [Numair] is doing some great things up there.