Meet Danny Sump, director of brewing operations at
Bright Ideas Brewing Co.
Full Name? Danny Sump
Your title? Director of Brewing Operations
Brewery Name? Bright Ideas Brewing
Brewery Location? North Adams & Westfield - Coming Late Spring 2023!
#1) What made you decide to get into the craft brewing industry? Back in 2012, I was looking for a career change and craft beer was starting to boom. I called up the local craft brewery asking for a job and they said yes. I started the next day washing kegs (and growing a beard).
#2) Which of your beers do your customers enjoy the most and why? Our Czech Pils (Czechs Out) or Kold Kolsch usually sell the best, but our beer geeks love our Phantasm IPAs and our Quaffable Waffle pastry stout series. We brew quaff waff with waffles, a waffle topping (such as blueberry or strawberry), maple syrup, chocolate, vanilla, and milk sugar. Banana is definitely our favorite of the group.
#3) What's your favorite thing about your brewery? The best thing about our brewery is the freedom and personality. The brewery, taproom, and general vibe are an extension of our employee's personalities. Our brewers get to brew the beer they like, the beertenders can play their favorite music, and our graphic designer has freedom of interpretation for all labels and artwork. When you come to our taproom or drink our beer, you really get a feel for who we are as a company.
#4) Besides your own, what Massachusetts craft beers or breweries impress you the most and why? There are a lot that impress me, but if I had to narrow it down, I would go with The Brewery at 4 Star Farms in Northfield, 2 Weeks Notice Brewing in West Springfield, and Great Awakening Brewing in Westfield. Chris is doing a killer job at 4 star farms brewing with local malt and hops. The setting is also unique as it is located on a hop farm. Besides brewing great IPAs, 2 weeks notice has created that "feels like home" atmosphere for their taproom. Some of the most friendly and fun people can be found working and drinking there. Great Awakening is one of the more creative breweries in Western Mass. They have a beautiful taproom and the variety and execution of their beer is fantastic.
#5) What’s a little known fact about you or your brewery that you think customers would get a kick out of? Our North Adams brewery is located on the campus of the largest contemporary art museum in North America. Mass MoCA contains 250,000 sq ft of visual art space. Bright Ideas is located in the front of Courtyard A with easy access brewery only parking across the street. We will also be opening a new production facility and taproom in Westfield by late Spring. We have 2 connected warehouses totaling 11,000 sq ft and will increase our production by 600%.
#6) What’s a style that you think is under-appreciated that you’d encourage other craft beer drinkers to try? I would say European dark lagers as a whole. I think general perception is that dark beer is heavy and bitter, but Schwarzbier, czech dark lager, etc... is very nuanced, balanced, and light. I believe dark lagers, when done well, are very enjoyable even to the pedestrian palate.