Today we’d like to introduce you to Christopher.
Christopher, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
It has been a dream of mine to open a brewery for many years. I had been homebrewing for more than 15 years and had received a lot of positive feedback on my beers. People kept suggesting that I should open my own brewery, and that only fueled my dream. In 2020 my wife and I decided to take the plunge and see if we could make it a reality. We found the perfect space where we could create a relaxing, cozy, friendly atmosphere and opened the doors in October 2022. We have been able to grow over these past few years due to the outpouring of support of the community, and in April 2025 we opened a second taproom in Warrenton, NC.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Overall, it has been a pretty smooth road thanks in part to our awesome staff and supportive community. Like any business though there have been some struggles. Sometimes the beer doesn’t cooperate and isn’t ready when expected and then you have to change your whole schedule around. We have the occasional technical difficulty with equipment that can be frustrating. However, that’s just par for the course, and its all about learning from the mistakes and challenges you come across and continue to move forward.
As you know, we’re big fans of Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We are a small brewery located in the Celebration Six Forks Shopping Center. We brew small batches which keeps the beer fresh and allows us to brew a variety of styles. We are known for our high quality and wide range of styles. Our tops selling brands are Yellow Umbrella Hazy IPA and our fruited sours. Our location sets us apart from others since we are in a shopping center but also have a large outdoor patio. It is easy to walk to for all the neighborhoods that surround us. We offer a lot of different events as well such as trivia, karaoke, music bingo, dog adoptions, and vinyl nights. Stop by to check out one of our events and enjoy some great craft beer.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
I think the most important thing I have learned is to not take on too much and spread myself and staff too thin. It is something that it is easy to get caught up in while trying to grow a business, but you quickly realize that it isn’t sustainable, and we don’t need to do everything all the time, and it’s okay if some things have to wait. Mental health and a good work-life balance are just as important as having a successful business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sneakypenguinbrewing.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sneakypenguinbrewing
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Sneakypenguinbrewing
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-nadeau-1795ba8/
