Meet Robin Leopoldo
Team Development Partner at Bent Water Brewing Co.
Full Name?
Robin Leopoldo
Your title?
Team Development Partner
Brewery Name?
Bent Water Brewing Co.
Brewery Location?
Lynn, MA
#1) What made you decide to get into the craft brewing industry?
To be 100% honest, I was a stay-at-home mom for 10 years, looking for part-time work and my friends happened to be starting a brewery. I loved the idea of being part of an all-hands-on-deck start-up and was grateful for the opportunity!
#2) Which of your beers do your customers enjoy the most and why?
While our brewers love lagers and brew a wide variety of beers, our hazy IPAs (especially Sluice Juice) are the most popular. Being in New England, it was important to us to have consistently delicious New England IPAs in our portfolio.
#3) What's your favorite thing about your brewery?
The team! It’s the people that make the job; and I work with a group of people who are kind, funny, dedicated, creative, and always ready to lend a helping hand.
#4) Besides your own, what Massachusetts craft beers or breweries impress you the most and why?
I have really enjoyed watching Channel Marker Brewing in Beverly, MA over the past several years. They have taken a small space in a creative building on a downtown corner and have grown with the area. They have been consistent with their brand and have become a well-recognized part of their community and beyond.
#5) What’s a little known fact about you or your brewery that you think customers would get a kick out of?
The inspiration for our beer labels came from the idea of having our beer “jump off the shelves”. Co-Founder and art director, Mike Shaughnessy, wanted to make the labels seem like they were moving. (Check out our Thunder Funk label.) In the process of intently staring at the designs he was creating, Mike literally got vertigo.
#6) Do you remember your first gateway craft beer? What did you love about it and why?
As a Texan, and not a well-versed beer drinker, a Corona with lime was the way to go. So, I definitely remember my first gateway craft beer and it is one of Bent Water’s originals - Jolene. I distinctly remember trying this American Porter and saying, “Now this is a craft beer I can drink!” To this day, it is my favorite beer because it is dark in color, rich in taste, but light to drink.