Today we’d like to introduce you to David Burns.
Hi David, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
Having spent almost 25 years in medical sales, my wife (Samantha) and I decided that I needed a career change. After exploring various options, my wife texted me from Accent Cellars, a winery in Dahlonega, GA. She’d had an epiphany, “Let’s build a brewery in Dahlonega. One that offers the same unique experience the wineries do: amazing scenery, music, a laid-back vibe that is close to home but could make you feel worlds away – BUT WITH BEER.” The journey to making 52 West Brewing a reality had begun. I started brewing beer, we sold our house in Cumming GA, purchased a beautiful 10-acre property in Dahlonega and wrote the business plan. The vision was to build a unique brewery concept. We coined the phrase Farm to Pint. A place where we would live, get a couple of cows, grow hops and fruit for the beer and brew uniquely balanced, flavorful beers. We opened the doors at 52 West Brewing on December 3, 2022.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey have been a fairly smooth road?
Nothing about this project has been a smooth road. We started by rebuilding an old house that needed to be completely gutted and rebuilt from the ground up. We initiated the buildout at the peak of the COVID pandemic. Materials, labor and skilled trades were in short supply. Financing was complicated. Designing a brewery on a well with a septic system presents all sorts of unique challenges. County utilities to power a 5BBL (150 gallon) brewhouse is a sorted, complex undertaking. Permits, licenses, bonds, insurance, inspections/failed inspections and endless amounts of forms and red tape!
Needless to say, it has been a long, challenging journey. I was starting a whole new career at 55. We were rebuilding an old house, building a new brewery, planting pastures, taking possession of two Scottish Highland cows, brewing beer and pursuing a craft brewing certificate from Cornell University. And …. we did all of this while a national network filmed everything we did for a reality-based TV show.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Brewery Founder/Owner, Brewer, Bartender, Farmer, Cow Handler and Chief Problem Solver.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
People, culture, mountains and beer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.52westbrewing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/52westbrewing/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100057571564394
