"It’s not always easy to tell when it’s time to make a change. You may be waiting for a sign that never arrives, or feeling paralyzed by fear and anxiety of the unknown. So what happens when you finally step off the ledge and take the plunge into uncertainty—and the entire world changes as a result? Jester King Brewery outside Austin, Texas, is known for their rustic country beers, a focus on ingredients, and being one of the best mixed culture ale producers in the country. Under the watch of their head brewer, Averie Swanson, the brewery continued to be a sought after destination for beer geeks from around the world. Averie recently struck out on her own and founded Keeping Together, her Saison and farmhouse-inspired beer project in Chicago, Illinois. Operating out of Half Acre Beer Company, her business model for Keeping Together is an unconventional one, and on today’s episode we discuss how and why she chose to leave Texas to bring her brewing knowledge to the Midwest, our mutual love for wild ales, and the challenges of starting a new endeavor in the shadow of COVID-19.