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By Susan Elise Campbell
Bound By Fate Brewing is a story of three generations and a business coming together in Schuylerville.
Co-founders Pam Pradachith-Demler and her husband Brett Demler had started in the craft beer industry in California, which had exploded after the Farm Brewery Bill was passed there. They imagined the brewery they would someday start themselves would have a unique business model of two-barrel production, brewing styles from around the world and dependence on local ingredients.
“My husband had been gathering beer names, recipes and design labels for 10 years,” she said.
Along with Brett’s two brothers, Evan and Ryan Demler, the partners incorporated in January of 2019. But Pradachith-Demler said it took a year to find the location that suited all their requirements, from their residence to their taproom, and head east “with no huge financial backing but our savings and some loans and gifts from family members.”
Everything came together for them in Schuylerville, birthplace of Brett and his brothers. Their mother was a teacher in the Schuylerville schools. They found a gabled house big enough to accommodate Pam and Brett, their two sons and her in-laws. The barn in the back was re-purposed for the brewery.
“One of our goals was to have a beautiful place where people will want to come and gather, for the community to build relationships,” she said. “The taproom is in the historic canal area at 31 Ferry St. with a spacious deck for outdoor seating and a beautiful view.”
“Crafting beer is really about running a factory, being a farmer and a scientist,” said Pradachith-Demler. “When brewing at the scale we are, production time is several weeks. But if you run out of an ingredient, you can’t just go to the store.”
The owners want to talk with the customers about their beers and the New York farms where the ingredients come from. “We are supporting the local economy on many levels,” she said.
There was a grand opening in February and business was off to a strong start offering eight different beers.
During a three-day winter power outage the taproom “did an amazing weekend of sales,” she said. “We served by candlelight and were very busy with everyone packed into our tiny taproom.”
But the ensuing COVID-19 pandemic was not in the business plan and the Demlers were forced to close the taproom a month later. Being an essential business, the brewery could remain open and do curbside sales, as well as home delivery of 32-ounce growlers.
“A brewery is a complex operation for anyone, but every day things were changing and we didn’t know what would happen as far as guidance for reopening,” she said. “We had a plan for business as usual, but the biggest challenge was creating our vision for the space, while respecting distancing and other guidelines.”
Things are still changing. Before the virus hit the area, Pradachith-Demler said 100 percent of sales had been from the taproom and that changed to 60 percent from sales-to-go. Today there is “plenty of product and plenty of space” for guests to sit and sip outside.
“We thought it was great to have a wraparound deck,” she said. “Now it’s where our guests can hang out safely.”
Brett Demler, who managed a home brew shop, is in charge of production and Ryan Demler, who lives in Buffalo and has 11 years professional brewing experience, runs operations. Evan Demler, with 15 years selling and production experience, heads up sales.
The partners believe the challenges they faced early on and “the energy that got them through” proved to be a boon to business. “We were selling out the first week we were re-opened,” Pradachith-Demler said. “Now our beer is even better than before.”
The offerings range from ICA style beers, cream ales, lagers, stout and other lighter styles of craft beer, with new flavors in development including a number of fruited wheat beers. The most popular is Lupulion, she said.
Pradachith-Demler said the Bound By Fate business and brand name reflects the Demlers’ philosophy that all people are connected to each other and to the earth.
“We want to put forth the sense of being made by hand and being bound to the ingredients of the earth,” she said. “In a time when people are feeling polarized, we are really all connected,” she said.
Wine, cider, assorted liquors and a limited menu of food and snacks are also available. Visit www.boundbyfatebrewing.com for a full list of offerings, hours of operation and more information.