Today we’d like to introduce you to Sarah Young. They and their team shared their story with us below:
Wild Heaven Beer History Georgia natives Nick Purdy and Eric Johnson, who had known each other since 1992, launched Wild Heaven in 2010. When we launched we were only the 5th Georgia beer company to be operating. We made our beers for 3 ½ years in Greenville, SC by Thomas Creek brewing (Ode To Mercy, Invocation, Eschaton, and Let There Be Light).
In 2014, we opened our brewery in Avondale Estates, featuring the original brewhouse originally purchased by the founders of SweetWater Brewing back in 1997. In the year after opening Avondale, we launched Civilization Barleywine, White Blackbird Saison, Emergency Drinking Beer, and more, including a barrel program that has yielded numerous award-winning beers. In late 2019 we opened our second brewery location in Atlanta’s Historic West End adjacent to the Westside Beltline Trail. This location features a full kitchen, operated by Taqueria El Tesoro, and a large private event space/music venue. We are aiming to open our third location in the Toco Hills development, in partnership with Fox Bros. BBQ, in early 2024.
Our beers are currently distributed in GA, AL, TN & SC.
Sarah Young, EVP + co-owner
Sarah was born in Washington, D.C. and grew up for a bit in southern Maryland before moving south to Greensboro, North Carolina. She then made her way even further south to Atlanta after graduating from The University of Georgia in 2006 with her degree in Advertising from the Grady School of Journalism. Post-graduation, she worked in the fast-paced, unpredictable world of Ad/Marketing agencies, with a strong focus in B2B marketing, brand development, and account service/strategy.
Sarah came on board with Nick and Eric back in 2012 to build the brand with retailers, wholesalers, and consumers prior to the Avondale Estates brewery’s brick-and-mortar opening. As Executive Vice President, Sarah is currently focused on overseeing marketing, developing strategic partnerships, streamlining operations/communications, providing sales guidance/support, and upholding the brand and company culture. When she isn’t ‘herding cats’ in the beer world, you can find her spending time with her family/rescue pups/friends, trail running, cooking with her husband, traveling or recreating near any body of water. Sarah is also a proud member of Les Dames d’Escoffier International’s Atlanta Chapter and serves on the Programs Committee.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
We’ve been very fortunate to expand locally with two locations (and a third under construction as of Dec ’23), serving vibrant parts of the Atlanta Metro area over the past 13+ years.
While the craft brewing industry has seen significant growth over the past several years, unfortunately Georgia still remains one of the most restrictive states to open and operate a small brewery. And, we’ve certainly had our share of challenges with rising costs of goods, materials, and services, supply chain issues, market shifts, and other economic pressures.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Wild Heaven Beer?
Our core year-round portfolio is focused on world-class beers designed to offer something new to the beer landscape—not simply creating our version of what everyone else is doing. Our beers are designed in the great tradition of European brewing but with a distinctly American creative flair. Our all-grain, no adjunct-sugar philosophy creates a bigger flavor without excess alcohol. We specialize in both culinary and botanically-driven recipes.
In 2023, we’ve broadened our offerings beyond beer to house-made hard cider, seltzers, and Georgia wines. Our motto ‘Serve Your Neighbor’ guides us as a hospitality brand, we’re constantly thinking about how we can make our taprooms fun, relaxing, open places for everyone. We highly value our community and industry partnerships, highlighting local restaurants as our in-house food partners (Taqueria El Tesoro at West End, Fox Bros. BBQ at the forthcoming Toco Hills location).
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
We’re going to continue to see a need for portfolio diversification, the NA movement is definitely something we’re investing in.
Contact Info:
- Website: wildheavenbeer.com
- Instagram: @beerwildheaven
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beerwildheaven
- Twitter: @beerwildheaven
