Visit Riviera Maya´s only brewpub for a unique experience and high-quality beer
There is a new brewpub in town that opened this past October, and it is the only one in the Riviera Maya. I had the distinct honor of meeting Jeff Michael from Pennsylvania to ask him more about this unique business.
The Playa Times: Where are you originally from and how did you find yourself in Playa del Carmen?
Jeff: I’m originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, but spent about five years working in New York City before deciding to quit my job there to start a brewery. I have been traveling back and forth to the Riviera Maya since 2010 but moved here permanently one year ago to start the business.
Is it difficult to run a business in a foreign country?
It’s not as hard as I originally thought. I think it would be much harder if I didn’t know Spanish. It’s a good thing I took five years of it in high school. There, of course, is some complexity with international transactions and Mexican residency, but so far nothing has been impossible to overcome.
How long has Carmen Beer Co. been open?
We opened our doors officially on October 8, so only just over two months.
So far, focusing on the product, our beer and the experience one has when visiting us at the brewery, has been the most important for us.
What advice would you give to anyone who wants to start a business in Playa?
It depends on the type of business. If you want to be small and informal, then you don’t need to worry too much. If you want to be big and visible, like a brewery, then I would recommend doing a lot of research in advance. Things will move slower than you expect no matter how hard you push, but it’s all part of the fun of operating in Mexico.
What makes Carmen Beer Co. different from other restaurants here in Playa?
Primarily, we make our own beer. We aim to have at least five different beers on tap all the time. We’re the only brewpub in the Riviera Maya, so we invite you to come to the only place in town where you can drink a beer right where it’s made.
What do you want your customers to remember most about a visit to Carmen Beer Co?
The quality of the experience! We work hard to make high-quality drinks and to make our barroom and beer tasting experience the best possible.
How is Carmen Beer Co. different from your past ventures?
I personally have had many types of jobs, from working in restaurants to biology laboratories to stock trading in New York. Nothing has been quite like this. Firstly, I am in charge of all aspects of the company, not just one piece of it. Hiring very good help is essential. Secondly, I’m now working in my favorite industry, making and selling craft beer, which is a massive upgrade over anything else I’ve ever done. And lastly, this is my first venture outside of the U.S., so physically being located here in Mexico is a big change. Multiple languages, cultural differences, and multi-national monetary and regulatory issues are all new twists to running a business.
What do you do on a day-to-day basis?
Day-to-day, I divide my time between brewery production supervision, bar room supervision, sales, and investor relations. There are 23 investors from around the world involved in the brewery so communicating with them takes some time, but it is important. Our sales are ramping up, so account management is important. Lastly, at the brewery, I try to spend time in the morning and early afternoon inside the brewery with production and time in the evening at the bar, helping out and talking with customers.
What has been the most fun of starting this venture?
I would say that seeing customers enjoying our beer really has been the best part so far. So much work has gone into getting a single glass of beer out to the customer, and to see them appreciate it feels very satisfying. Also, nearly all our employees started the job without knowing anything about the process of making beer, and now to see them giving brewery tours is impressive.
Carmen Beer Co. is located in the Xaman Ha Plaza across the highway from Centro Maya. Visit their Facebook page at Facebook.com/CarmenBeerCo/.
