An “Mekong” Bui Interviews Neil Burton of Strangeways Brewing

In recent months, Neil Burton has heard it all: Where will you be located? What’s up with the vest you are wearing? What the heck are you guys going to be brewing? Burton, who previously made his mark in the clothing industry, will soon launch Strangeways, Richmond’s next craft brewery. Strangeways has captured the attention of Richmonders due to Burton’s longstanding presence on the beer scene, the brewery’s s top secret plans prior to launching, and word of a resident monkey. An Bui, of Mekong fame, slowed Burton down long enough to find out what’s next for Burton and Strangeways.

An: How did you get into craft beer?

Neil: The short answer is travel. International travel and study abroad in Austria and Germany in the early ‘90s through today showed me what good beer tastes like and started my lifelong pursuit of tasting extraordinary beer. The landscape of beer was quite different at the time I first went abroad. However, one beer in particular Schneider’s Aventinus really excited me. It opened up the idea that beer in fact can be something other than bland and ordinary. Quickly I was hooked and wanted to travel as much as possible to experience beers the world had to offer. I have been fortunate enough to visit several countries in search of great beer: Germany, Austria, Italy, Czechoslovakia, Hungary, Spain, England, Belgium, Holland, France, Switzerland, Iceland, Greece, Canada, Mexico and, most notably, the United States.

An: What makes good craft beer?

Neil: The small, independent, and traditional approach that I believe all true craft brewers take gives them a much better chance of producing tasty beers. It also is key to not utilize adjuncts such as rice or corn to lighten the beers flavors, like macro breweries tend to do. Then it is up to the consumer to taste the vast array of craft beers in their market and let their own personal tastes lead them to find hopefully a variety of different types of beers to enjoy. It is important to note here the difference in the term “good.” What one individual terms “good” beer is in the eye of the beholder. When I am talking to someone about beer, especially someone who has yet to try a lot of different beers, I always give them the advice to take a sip of a particular beer once, then twice, and then go ahead and be your own personal judge as to whether you like it or not.

An: Why do you think RVA is becoming such a craft beer town?

Neil: We already have had for years a vibrant restaurant and bar scene, with a great mix of local and national grocery stores, and a variety of local bottle shops. Then you take our central location in the state, a fantastic urban river, exciting local festivals and events, unique people with involvement in their local community, outdoor enthusiasts … I could go on here. But it is just a melting pot of activity here in RVA, and craft beer goes hand and hand with a lot of this.

An: Do you think RVA can really support another brewery? If so, how many?

Neil: If done with the proper commitment, integrity, and passion to the product—absolutely. But putting an absolute number on it depends on many factors. For instance, the concept of nano-breweries adds an interesting spin on a brewery selling its product in more of a specific neighborhood than throughout the local area. Nano-breweries certainly can add a cool dynamic to the future, and I believe that the more we have, the more the buzz will surround local craft beer.

An: Do you think we can become another Asheville (N.C.)?

Neil: Well, with a metro population of roughly three times Asheville’s, Richmond certainly offers more long-term opportunity. I think Richmond is different in many ways and it will differ from Asheville no matter what happens. People here who are passionate about craft beer strive to put Richmond on the beer map in our own way. We are not chasing another town’s exact scene.

An: Where did the name Strangeways come from?

Neil: The inspiration for the name Strangeways initially came out of my admiration for the ‘80s English alternative rock band The Smiths and particularly their final studio album, Strangeways Here We Come. I thought the name fitting when making such a big career shift from clothing retailer to production brewery founder. I also thought the name Strangeways was a good representation of the unusual beers we planned on making, as well as to express everyone’s individual differences that many others may perceive as odd, different, or strange.

An: What are some of the misconceptions of a brewery?

Neil: One of the main misconceptions involves the differences between a production brewery – like Strangeways – and brewpubs. We are a production facility/brewery with a tasting room, while a brewpub is a restaurant that has a brewery onsite. Zoning and where you can locate around town vary greatly depending on which category you fall in. That explains why Strangeways is in an industrial park, not in Carytown.

Another misconception is that there is a lot of margin in beer and that breweries rake in the cash. I wish, but sadly those are both misconceptions. The use of quality ingredients, smaller economies of scale, and the overhead needed to produce the product make it harder to get ahead of the curve monetarily. At this level, it truly is a passion business.

An: Any closing thoughts to our readers?

Yeah. If you happened to catch our teaser campaign on StrangewaysBrewing.com or on Facebook, note that we are gas mask optional at the brewery. Plus, while visiting, don’t forget to ask about our resident monkey, A.F.M. But seriously, we thank you for supporting local craft beer, and without your patronage and input, we would not be able to embark on this exploration.