Odd Colony Brewing Company and The Burrow, Pensacola

We did a story at the end of last year on Pensacola’s Grayson Bay Oyster Company. The interview took place at Odd Colony Brewing Company on Palafox Street. As I was talking to Brandon Smith about farm-raised oysters, we enjoyed a Tidal Guide draft beer, made exclusively by Odd Colony. 

I noticed it came in cans with a beautiful, distinctive label. When we wrapped up, Brandon introduced me to Brett Schweigert, one of the owners of Odd Colony. We made arrangements to meet in a few weeks, and the timing couldn't have been better!

Brett and his business partner, Blake Foster have opened a second location in the East Hill area of Pensacola called The Burrow, (like a rabbit). Brett grew up in a large Pensacola family with five sisters and a brother. His brother is an artist and has helped design some of Odd Colony’s labels. He tends the bar there sometimes, but being an artist is his main gig. 

Brett tells me that Odd Colony has about eight local artists who help create unique labels for each beer they produce. It’s part of the character that is evident in everything they do. Art is an important aspect of Odd Colony, and each label tells a story.

“Can designs are synonymous with the same feeling you get when studying the cover of a vinyl record. They should evoke a certain semblance of curiosity. Oftentimes, we like to integrate fun little hidden easter eggs throughout our illustrations to further entertain any consumers who are willing to look a little deeper.  This is very much akin to some of the more storied albums like the Beatles’ Sgt Pepper,” Brett said. 

At Odd Colony, you will find similar hidden treasures on labels such as their “Basement Grapes” brew label. “We want our taproom to be the same as our labels in that you can simply sit and enjoy the ambiance, while there are simultaneously plenty of layers to peel back if you choose. These are just some fun goodies we’ve incorporated to keep it interesting,” added Brett. 

While the labels tell a story, the decor at Odd Colony includes lots of vinyl records and other items that evoke a sense of warmth. They also host Record Fairs and occasional Vinyl Nights where patrons bring their records to play. They have even created a Collaborative Beer with Pensacola’s Revolver Records.

“Our namesake and a large part of our ethos is inspired by Belgian Farmhouse brewing. The process they followed is quite a romantic style of brewing. These old family breweries would create these distinctly unique beers based on the microflora present in their respective regions using the ingredients they had readily available.” 

“Odd Colony represents a mixed culture collection of wild yeast and a bacteria style of brewing.  The imagery we use for our brand is a collection of different creatures gathering around a campfire to create a beautiful thing,” he says.

I asked him to explain what wild yeast was and how it made his beer different. “We originally harvested some yeast from the skin of persimmon and married it with some other lab cultures to create a unique flavor profile from our area. We use this particular mixed culture on all of our farmhouse-style beers.” 

He tells me that wild yeast, like using local honey, adds a little bit of acid and ferments quite dry, making a very refreshing beverage. Saison (meaning season) is a beer style they brew often. “We use things like Chanterelle mushrooms, peaches, Elderberry flowers and Dandelion (earthy quality, he tells me), even Sumac, but not the poisonous kind.”

So, how did all this come about? I asked. “I got my Business Management degree from Florida State and then worked in my dad’s Benjamin Moore paint shop, The Paint Mart, after college. In 2014, I moved to Asheville with my wife. I love music, I love the outdoors, and I love craft beer, so Asheville seemed the perfect place for me.”

He told me he wanted to join the National Park Service or get into the craft beer scene. He began volunteering at the Great Smoky Mountain National Park doing trail maintenance. He also bartended at Twin Leaf Brewing Company in Asheville with the hopes of getting into the brewing. “I figured I could enjoy both, but the brewing gig opened up first, and I became the assistant brewer 3 or 4 months into my tenure.”

As we are talking, Taylor, another brewer at Odd Colony, brings a glass of beer he is creating for Brett to sample. It’s a Radler, a Helles Pale lager married with a fresh fruit juice blend of strawberry and lemon. He likes it but they are still tweaking the flavor. “We’re just adding juice to the back end of the beer and it depends on what fruit juice you want to use and what is in season,” he tells me.

Brett enjoys the science behind the brewing process. Odd Colony has four categories of brewing styles: European Style Lager, Seasonally-inspired Farmhouse Ales, Traditional English Ales, and IPAs. He tells me these are timeless arrays of beer styles and guide their overarching brewing strategy.

Brett lived and worked in Asheville from 2014 until 2017 when he returned to Pensacola to be closer to the family after he and Beth had their first child. He had an opportunity to help open Perfect Plain Brewing and was their head brewer for two years. That’s when his childhood friend, Blake Foster approached him about opening their own craft beer brewery.

“Blake had been involved in a couple of businesses and was intrigued because we were fans of craft beer. We wanted to create something that was inspired and approachable.” He tells me they wanted to create a vibe that was evocative of the mysticism entrenched in fermentation. 

Inspirations for the taproom range from wilderness lodge taxidermy to the eclectic wardrobe of the mythical New Orleans rock and roll icon, Dr John. “We wanted a space that was inviting and homey, yet full of eclectic decor.”

Odd Colony opened in 2019 and will celebrate its 5th anniversary in October. The Burrow, Odd Colony’s sister brewery opens this month and will incorporate an Odd Colony Biergarten. “The Burrow is the Spring version of the more wintertime aesthetic at the brewpub downtown,” says Brett.

“Where downtown is rich with a Scandinavian color scheme, dried flowers, and skulls riddling the walls, The Burrow is primarily outside with rich, lush greenery everywhere. “We feel like we attract a diverse array of people, and I think it is because we have a terrific staff, comfortable homey aesthetics, a great range of music that people enjoy, along with some tasty ferments. We feel like The Burrow will be home to some of the same themes but house a uniquely immersive experience.”

As we are talking, I am enjoying the music that is playing. A woman is sitting a few tables away preparing food by  MI SU Food Truck for the evening crowd. “They have great food. Their main things are fried chicken, burgers, and great sandwiches. We have food trucks Tuesday through Saturday. We also have guest food trucks such as Nomadic Eats and Sauce Boss on occasion.”

Brett’s wife, co-founder Beth Schweigert, handles all the curated events and social media. She orchestrates events spanning from book and record events to seasonal markets. “The Book Fair event we just hosted had a line wrapped around the building. We try to make each event pretty layered and work with a bunch of artists and makers to further enhance the experience.”

Odd Colony also has live music. The rear of the building has garage doors that open up in nice weather. “We like a wide array of music. Mather Logan Vasquez from Delta Spirit is playing in March. He’s toured nationally, and we are really excited he’s coming here.”

Brett tells me a large percentage of folks enjoy lager. It’s the largest style consumed on a national basis, but it’s also one of the most challenging styles to execute as a brewer. “It’s the perfect beverage for the South - bright, refreshing, and if executed properly,  has lots of nuance. But there’s not much to hide behind.”

We spent a minute discussing the growth in Pensacola. “This area has grown a lot over the last decade. The creative injection is unreal. I love the abundance of culinary offerings and the vast musical and arts opportunities we have today. The food truck scene is amazing. Lots of people are returning home because it's a great place to live. The place is booming!”

He tells me Pensacola now has one of the largest numbers of craft breweries per capita in the nation. He loves what’s happening on Palafox Street. “The Palafox Market has been great for business on Saturdays.” Be sure to watch for the grand opening of The Burrow. In the meantime, stop by Odd Colony. Have a great beer and a great time!

Thank you, Brett. I truly enjoyed our visit!