The recent BeerWise podcast episode featuring Sean Sasscer, Cigar City Brewing’s technical brewing manager, offers a fascinating glimpse into the evolution of one of Florida’s most iconic craft breweries. Sean’s journey from home brewing with a Mr. Beer kit in college to overseeing the legendary Cigar City brewing operation mirrors the broader transformation of the craft beer industry itself.
Sean’s candid reflections on his early days reveal the serendipitous nature of finding one’s path in the brewing world. Starting as a homebrewer while pursuing a master’s degree in counseling psychology, he eventually found himself volunteering at Burley Oak Brewing in Maryland before being thrust into the role of head brewer after mere months of professional experience. This sink-or-swim approach was common in craft beer’s explosive growth period, when passion often outweighed formal training. His eventual move to Cigar City Brewing in 2013 placed him in what he describes as “the Wild West” of brewing – an era where innovation and the “rule of cool” drove decisions more than market analysis or profit margins.
Perhaps most enlightening is Sean’s perspective on how Cigar City has navigated its identity through ownership changes, from independence to Fireman Capital to Monster Beverage. Despite these transitions, Sean emphasizes that the brewery’s philosophy has remained steadfast: quality and innovation come first. His response to criticism about Cigar City losing its “local” status reflects a mature industry perspective – they focus on the beer rather than social media chatter, confident that quality speaks for itself. This represents a significant shift from the rebellious, anti-establishment ethos that once defined craft brewing to a more nuanced approach focused on refinement and consistency.
The evolution of Cigar City’s brewing approach mirrors broader industry trends. Sean notes a shift toward brewing beers with more nuance and subtlety – moving away from in-your-face flavors toward complex, session-friendly offerings that invite multiple pints rather than shock value. His comment that “in a world where everyone’s trying to mimic everyone else, try not to do that” speaks to the challenge of maintaining distinctiveness in an increasingly crowded marketplace. This philosophy guides their approach to both legacy brands like Hunapuʻ and new innovations coming out of their Tampa tasting room.
What shines through most clearly is Sean’s enduring passion for brewing after more than a decade at Cigar City. When asked what keeps him coming to work each day, his answer is simple yet profound: “It’s a dream come true to be working in this industry, as chaotic as it is in these days.” He stays for “the love of the game” – a sentiment that captures why many professionals remain in craft beer despite its challenges. His final piece of wisdom – that “it’s just beer” – offers a refreshingly grounded perspective from someone who has seen the industry transform from rebellious upstart to established cultural force.
This conversation provides not just a history of one brewery but a valuable snapshot of craft beer’s maturation. From the early days of experimentation to today’s focus on refinement and consistency, Sean Sasscer’s journey at Cigar City Brewing reflects how the industry continues to evolve while trying to maintain the passion and creativity that made craft beer revolutionary in the first place.