Hidden Gems: Meet Patti Eisenbraun of Brown Iron Brewhouse

Today we’d like to introduce you to Patti Eisenbraun.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
In 2005, my husband, Tim, (now married 30 years) and I decided we wanted to do more in life than what we were currently doing. We wanted to have a vehicle to get people together, have community events, be a great place for families and adults, share our love of craft beer and scratch-made food as well as a way to give back to the community. We also wanted to be a safe place for those with dietary needs and we specialize in gluten-free beer and food.

We started home-brewing in 1993 and our favorite thing to do for date night or on vacation was to visit local breweries. At that time, there were not that many and it was fun seeking them out. We put a 10-year plan into place. We lived below our means and saved for school for our children and decided we were comfortable taking the necessary risks to open a brewery. My husband went to brewing school and we spent time researching trends, attending conferences, and writing a rock-solid business plan. We searched the entire area of southeastern Michigan to find the right location and it turned out, just one mile from where we live, an opportunity came up and we completely transformed multiple blighted pieces of contiguous property into a beautiful, brand-new brewery and restaurant in Washington Township, Mi. People thought we were crazy since we wanted to create a destination and not locate in a well-established retail area. In January of 2015, Brown Iron Brewhouse in Washington Township opened. In our first week of opening, we had 6000 guests! It was insane and threw us for a loop.

CraftBeer.com, which is the marketing arm of the Brewer’s Association, has named Brown Iron “Best Great American Beer Bar in Michigan” in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020. They suspended the program in 2021. USA Today ranked Brown Iron #4 in the nation of “Best Craft Beer Bars” and in 2017, the State of Michigan named Brown Iron Brewhouse one of the “Top 50 Companies to Watch”. In 2022, I was honored to receive the “Rick Snyder Spirit of Entrepreneurship” award for being a champion for small business and my perseverance and success through the past years of COVID. I currently sit on the Board of Directors for the Small Business Association of Michigan.

March 1, 2020, marked the opening of our long-anticipated second location in Royal Oak, Michigan. It started just like Washington Township, breaking customer and sales records. Then, 15 days later, COVID restrictions began and hit the restaurant industry extremely hard. I had over 130 employees combined and had to go to a skeleton crew of 25.

It crushed my soul to let people go. I try to practice “Servant Leadership” and make sure my staff and customers are in a great position before me. The entire purpose of Brown Iron is not as a money-making adventure, but as a way to bring people together and give back to the community.

Because of the timing of the Royal Oak location, it was not eligible for the multiple government programs which aided existing restaurants. We received a very small PPP payment and nothing else since only one week of pay qualified. The silver lining is that the people came and supported us. We are proof that good food and good service will shine and we stand on our own laurels of success. Both locations are thriving and continuing to be a great place for the best food and beer.

A third location is in the works and we will make an announcement in the coming month or so with the details! The trauma of COVID is real for me. It has been transforming to my core for so many reasons. One thing is certain though, we stayed true to who we are and continue to be a great place to come together.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
The normal operations of any new business can be challenging. Hiring the right staff that can work well together and understand the “why” of your business. is the first step. Having the right menu and trained staff, the right “feeling” when you walk into an establishment and staying true to your vision get tweaked constantly. Throw in the “people” management, the maintenance, bills, licensing, cash flow, you name it and it’s challenging at times. Now throw in the outside influences that can destroy your business plan, staff, mental health, operations, budgeting, supply chain, and restrictions under COVID and you have a disaster waiting.

Since we are a small family business, we did not have the security net of a major group of investors or the shelter of a larger company with other assets. Our operations were financed by the home I live in and my assets. We had no security and only had the choice to succeed. We changed how we did business with delivery services and online ordering. We developed affordable family meal packs and even had grocery boxes and paper products for sale. Friends came and worked for us for free. The community rallied around us and social media pages such as Royal Eats were a champion for our business.

As we navigate back to what we feel is “normal”, we have learned a lot. Carryout is going to be a larger part of our existence. Parties will still happen but for a short time, they will be for fewer people and budgets are a concern for them. Purveyors have raised prices by a lot but we need to be a place of affordability and still be a disruptor in the business by being innovative. Community engagement is always going to be paramount for us.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Brown Iron Brewhouse (Brown Iron) is a multi-tap, beer-centric smokehouse. Their focus is on fresh, high-quality, scratch-made smokehouse cuisine that pairs with their passion for the American craft beer industry. Brown Iron has become well known for high-quality offerings, gluten-free options, Beer Server Cicerone-trained staff, unique venue, and events. Support for the local community through charitable assistance and donations is integral to the success.

Founded in 2011 by Tim and Patti Eisenbraun, Brown Iron Brewhouse was a dream set in motion for their love of the craft beer industry, quality food, and love of the community. In 2012, Tim and Patti partnered with Chef Deni Smiljanovski who shared their same passion.

Tim earned his BS in Economics from MSU and Certifications from the Siebel Institute for the Brewing Arts. Patti earned her BA from MSU and spent 15 years in event planning. Chef Deni earned his Culinary Arts degree from Macomb Community College and has been in the industry for over 30 years.

In 2015, Brown Iron Brewhouse opened its doors in Washington Township, MI. Styled as a twist on a modern German beer hall, Brown Iron offers an open and casual atmosphere either in the beer hall with large, communal tables or in the outdoor patio with authentic German beer garden tables and fire pits. This location also houses their brewery operations and features their house-made beer on many of the 70 taps offered.

Specializing in the American craft beer industry, weekly special tap showcase, featured dining events, and large seasonal festivals, Brown Iron has quickly become recognized as a leader in the multi-tap industry. In 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020, Brown Iron Brewhouse was named “Best Craft Beer Bar in Michigan” by CraftBeer.com, which is the marketing arm of the Brewer’s Association for the craft beer industry in the US. In 2017, Brown Iron was also recognized by the State of Michigan as one of the “Top 50 Companies to Watch in 2017”. This recognition was earned by the number of full-time jobs created, charitable investment in the community and financial growth, and the financial health of the company. In the spring of 2018, USA Today recognized Brown Iron Brewhouse as one of the “Best Beer Bars in the US” and ranked them fourth in the nation amongst other beer bars in large metropolitan areas such as New Orleans, Chicago, Portland, and San Fransisco. In 2022, Patti was recognized as the recipient of the “Rick Snyder Spirit of Entrepreneurship Award” for her dedication for small business in the state of Michigan.

A second Brown Iron was opened in March of 2020 during the start of COVID. It is located in Royal Oak, Michigan. It has success based on the laurels of the great food, drinks, staff, and the community and is thriving today.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I cannot say enough about the staff at Brown Iron who stuck with us through all of the things that put us on our heels time and time again. They are the champions. I also could not have stayed in the right mindset without a mentor I was paired up with through the Edward Lowe’s Foundation. His name is David Galbenski. He was a mentor that kept me focused, hopeful and helped my mindset through very dark times. He is a business owner as well and understands the entrepreneurial mindset.

In addition to connecting me with the best mentor I could have, the Edward Lowe’s Foundation which is a champion for second-stage businesses, has engaged me with support groups for other small business owners, provided learning retreats, and has always been a rock for me knowing someone is there for my business and others as we enter the second stage of business. They do this all for little or no cost.

I also cannot say enough for the Small Business Association of Michigan (SBAM) This is truly an organization that kept me in their line of sight and provided advocacy, funding, education, marketing, and legislative updates. I owe so much of my success to both The Edward Lowe’s Foundation and SBAM. On the local level, the Royal Oak Chamber and the Facebook group, Royal Oak Eats have been a major part of getting people to Brown Iron and letting them know about our business. I would not be in the right mindset nor would the business be as successful and thriving without them.

Pricing:

• 6 oz Sample pours of beer and ciders range form $2 to $4
• Full pours of beer and cider range from $5-$8
• Dinners $14-$20
• Appetizers $6-$14
• Sandwiches $14-$18

Contact Info:

• Website: https://browniron.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brown_iron_brewhouse/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Brownironbrewhouseroyaloak/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/brown-iron-brewhouse-washington-twp/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/BrownIronBrew
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/brown-iron-brewhouse-washington