Brewer passes the taste test

Andrew Fineran has long had a liking for beer, but not in the way most people do when they drink it.

- ALAN DEANS

Interview

Fact file

Andrew Fineran

Co-founder of boutique brewing company

Batch Brewing Co; age 43.

Lives in Sydney; married to Brie.

Andrew became interested in marketing beer as a teenager; he built a nest egg by saving tips while working at Taco Bell. His advice on managing money is that you don’t need the fancy things in life; prefers to save to buy a house rather than wear fancy sneakers, etc. Regrets not playing lacrosse, his favourite sport, at university. Biggest influence has been Brie. “She supports me, not only mentally, but also by allowing me to do what I do”. Migrated to Australia from the US state of Maryland.

He tracks his passion back to an economics course he undertook in the US, his homeland, as part of a major in marketing.

The realisation dawned that brewing was one of the best industries to be in because, in good times, people drink beer. In bad times, they drink more beer.

He recalls thinking: “It’s pretty safe and stable. Maybe I’ll do that. I don’t need to drink a lot of beer myself. My favourite part is the smell of it being brewed. I love that more than drinking it. Also, I love creating a place for people to come together and to enjoy themselves. It’s all about a sense of community.”

Fineran met his business partner, Chris Sidwa, while playing lacrosse. Sidwa, also an American, had been mulling over the idea of quitting his job to start a brewing business, a hobby he had been pursuing at home with brew kits. Fineran’s skills were in marketing, and he was working for Lion, one of Australia’s major brewers. That included a stint at Mountain Goat, a boutique operation bought by Lion.