Family Business

Between playdates, chores, and summer camps, our two kids spend a LOT of time with us at the brewery. Last week, they helped snap together and date-code our latest batch of Lake Mac Lager cans. (They also entertained some gracious taproom customers in long conversations! Ha!)

More than a century ago, my (Lisa's) Grandpa John Kraus grew up much like our children. His father, my great-grandfather Louis Kraus, was brewmaster of the new Hastings Brewing Company, which opened in February 1908. John was born shortly after.

As John grew and the brewery expanded to be the second largest in the state before Prohibition, my young grandpa's job was to "candle" the beers. He would pass the bottles in front of a candle and make sure the only thing you could see in the bottle was clear, crisp, old-style German lager. He would also doodle in his dad's brewer manuals and notebooks (see "Johnny Kraus" in the pics?).

Now, we are writing the Second Chapter of this story and we're so glad our kids are part of it!
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Do you get to teach your children values through your work? We'd love to hear your stories too!