From reporter to brewer

By Karen Tina Harrison | Special to amNewYork

April 23, 2007

Steve Hindy, president and founder of Brooklyn Brewery. (Photo by Karl Knoop / April 22, 2007)

Who Pulled It Off: Steve Hindy, 58

What He Does: Hindy is the founder and president of Brooklyn Brewery in Williamsburg, which sells millions of cases of beer around the world.

What He Used to Do: Hindy was a correspondent for Associated Press. "I learned Arabic and covered the Lebanese civil war, the Iran-Iraq war, and the Iranian hostage crisis," he says. "It was such an exciting job."

Why He Switched: "My wife was sick of living in war zones, so we returned to Brooklyn. Back home, my reporter's desk job felt boring after all I'd been through," recounts Hindy. "In the Mideast, I'd learned to brew beer from American diplomats who had been stationed in alcohol-free Saudi Arabia. I started wondering if brewing could be a career."

How He Did It: "My downstairs neighbor Tom Potter, a banker, thought we should open a brewery. We wrote a business plan, got funding, found an old brewery space in Brooklyn, and hired people. Our first brew, in '88, was Brooklyn Lager. It's still our bestseller."

What Brewers Do: "When you start a company, you have to learn a lot and do everything yourself," says Hindy. "When Brooklyn Brewery was new, I made the beer, marketed and sold it, drove the delivery truck, and managed my staff."

How's the Money?: "In most startups, finances are tight at first. You'll probably have to take a pay cut, and some months you might have to go without salary. But if your beverage takes off, there's good money to be made."

What About Perks?: "The brewing business is extremely social," Hindy notes. "You meet people who enjoy life. And brewers are historically very community-minded. It makes me feel good to give back to Brooklyn."

Who Does This Job Best: "Brewers need business sense and a good palate," says Hindy. "Formulating and producing beer is a team effort, so you have to be able to appreciate your employees."

What Else You Should Know: "Brewers never run out of beer."

Where to Find Out More: www.brooklynbrewery.com