Today we’d like to introduce you to Adam “Cuzzin” Willier.
Hi, Adam “Cuzzin,” we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
The Magnetic South team assembled in January 2018 and rallied around a simple concept that quickly evolved into a wild adventure. In 2019 we began our dream of building out our first location. During this time, we had the honor to brew our beers with Thomas Creek Brewery’s team to bring our concoctions to life. We bought a draft trailer and sold our beers outside the Smokin’ Pig BBQ in Pendleton. Covid surprised the world in 2020 and shut our draft trailer down, leaving us hoping for better days. Crisis struck again on New Year’s Day 2021 when our draft trailer was stolen. We kept our heads high and continued to make and distribute beer through some of our favorite taprooms and events.
After months of delays, we opened our first location on Main Street in downtown Anderson in September 2021. It was a dream to finally bring our beers to the world through our taproom experience. We focused on creating a high-energy, family-friendly brewery with a fun taproom space. Simple, straightforward, drinkable beers paired with delicious pizzas and snacks. A place where the novice beer drinker and the craft beer enthusiast can share the same space to enjoy beer, food, and good times.
The team is currently expanding into two new markets. A new location was opened in March of 2023 at The Judson Mill property in Greenville, SC. While the Judson Mill location will share the Magnetic South name and logo, it will have a different and exciting food option. The space is slightly larger than our original Anderson location and will have more games and space to hang out and enjoy great beers. We are also building and expanding into the Clemson, SC market, with a 3,500 sqft space slated to open in the summer of 2023 at the Dockside project on Hwy 123. This location will have a different food component and focus more on a taproom and restaurant instead of brewing. The Dockside location will house Magnetic South’s pilot system, where we can try out new and exciting ingredient combinations to continue to bring you the best beer possible.
The Magnetic South brand creates an experience that embodies the spirit of true Southern hospitality – believing that, at its core, good beer, good food, and good people are the things that make the South positively Magnetic. We can’t wait to share our lovingly crafted beers with you.
Let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
It has not been a smooth road, is it ever Lol? All the bumps along the way have been for a reason and have helped us build character. All 3 locations have seen their fair share of hurdles. The biggest battle has been construction. Our Anderson build was during/slightly after covid hit, and the lead times on everything almost doubled or tripled. We continued to see that in Greenville and Clemson. The amount of everyone in the area is currently building new and rebuilding old mills made it hard to source the same materials everyone else was looking for. Besides construction and equipment delays, our struggles have been similar to any other small business owners.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Magnetic South Brewery?
I am the brewing half of the team that owns Magnetic South. I’ve been brewing beer as a homebrewer since around 2010 and professionally since around 2015. I am proud of our production team at Magnetic South. We enjoy crafting beers everyone loves to enjoy, from the craft beer professional to the novice macro lager drinker. We focus on simple German and English-style beers while also leaving some room for fun sours and IPAs. Everything we do comes with a passion for the craft and a love for the industry. We have some exciting new releases and events coming soon and urge you to follow our social media pages and website to stay current!
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I took my first risk when I left my corporate job and decided to join the brewing industry. It was tough to leave a comfort to work for a family-run brewery. I didn’t know that it would change my life forever for the best. It’s hard when you take a risk to see how awesome the outcome can be two, three, or ten years down the road. The best advice I can give someone on risk is to take the chance and ensure you are okay with taking the chance.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.magneticsouthbeer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/magneticsouthbeer/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/magneticsouthbeer
Image Credits
Will Malone, MiMI Medlin
