Meet Christopher Ranere | Owner and Head Brewer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christopher Ranere and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christopher, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My wife, Nicole, and I have always had the entrepreneur and “never say die” mindset. After meeting at Epic, a Healthcare IT company, and spending years working in a high stress and fast paced industry, we were looking at careers that involved less travel and allowed us flexibility to create our own brand/business. One of us was typically traveling 4-5 days per week, and we were always limited in our decision making capabilities. We had been homebrewing for some time, won a few competitions, and always loved visiting local breweries. When I learned of an open position as a brewing assistant at local brewery I took it to learn more about the industry and production brewing. I instantly feel in love, so Nicole and I went to work on writing our business plan and raising capital. I am very proud to say that when we opened we were 100% family owned and had 0 debt.

What should our readers know about your business?
One thing that sets Indigo Reef Brewing apart from other breweries is we are owner/brewer operated. You can see the passion behind the brewery when you visit the taproom and taste it with each batch of beer. We just celebrated our 5-year anniversary which we are very proud of. We were only open for 10 months before our taproom had to temporarily close due to the pandemic and it’s been an uphill battle ever since. We had to make many changes to our operations, like buying a canning line so we could supply beer to-go while the taproom was closed, but the challenges we’ve faced and overcome thus far are what makes our business what it is today. We’ve learned a lot about supply chain issues, price adjustments and how that impacts our products, and the importance of consistent food offerings when you’re located in a more remote location. When we opened the brewery 5 years ago we wanted it to make craft beer approachable and to provide the community a place to gather, make friends, and enjoy well crafted beer. We feel we’ve hit all of those marks.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
A trip to Charleston would have to include a visit downtown hitting up all of the tourist spots, like Rainbow Row, the Market, and the Pineapple Fountain. While downtown we’d grab a bite from 167 Raw and a drink from Gin Joint. Throughout the week we’d then spend time at Sullivan’s Island Beach, which would include getting a burger and beer at Poe’s Tavern, or Isle of Palms Beach. We’d of course have to walk the bridge at some point to get priceless views of the city. A quick trip to the South Carolina Aquarium would be squeezed in – this is where we got married so it always holds a special place in our heart – and then getting tacos and a drink from Taco Boy or brisket from Lewis BBQ. Finally, a happy hour (or two) at Shem Creek at either Water’s Edge or Tavern and Table and a little bit of dolphin watching. If there is time, heading over to Magnolia or Boone Hall Plantations to enjoy more of what this area has to offer alongside the history of Charleston.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Indigo Reef Brewing Company wouldn’t be here today if it wasn’t for Matty Symons. A wonderfully grumpy sole that would give you the shirt off of his back. He took me on as a brewing assistant at Two Blokes Brewing and literally opened his books for us. He helped us make key decisions in building our brand and brewery and also taught me how to brew on a production system. Matty was also amazing at forming a bond with each customer that walked in the door. His Australian accent drew them in and his passion for the craft kept them on the hook. He unfortunately passed away during the pandemic and we miss him dearly but his memory lives on as I frequently reflect back on all he taught me about running a brewery.

Website: https://www.indigoreefbrewing.com

Instagram: @IndigoReefBrewing

Facebook: @IRBrewing

Image Credits
Reese Moore Photography