Beerknews / 2020 was tough but...

…Flying Saucer has a secret weapon.

The following is a special contribution from Flying Saucer’s Beer Director, Asa Hanrahan.

“2020 was going to be lit!
Then the COVID-19 pandemic swept the nation.”

In October 2019 and the beginning of 2020 I was spending a lot of time traveling around the country to meet with Saucer management teams, plan with our fantastic ownership team, work at beer festivals, and meet up with amazing Beerknurds at the Great American Beer Festival. What happens at GABF stays at GABF 😉

Asa Hanrahan with Brett Preston at GABF 2019 — Asa with Brett Preston at GABF 2019

Every Saucer I went to was bustling. There are few things I love more than walking into a Flying Saucer and seeing it firing on all cylinders. I have a great sense of pride when I hear staff talking about great beer with our regulars and watching my favorite breweries’ beers fly off the tap. Flying Saucer was having record-setting sales at several of our locations and gearing up for our best year ever. I met up with the fantastic San Antonio team to prepare for a huge Craft Beer Conference in April. 2020 was going to be lit!

Then the COVID-19 pandemic swept the nation. We have all had our own experiences, and I’m sure there are many people worse off than we are, but our work life definitely changed. It became increasingly stressful trying to adapt to the changing business guidelines handed down from local and state officials.

Beer to go tent in front of Flying Saucer — Tent in front of Cordova Flying Saucer. Flying Saucers had to quickly pivot to find ways to operate and follow local regulations. Luckily, we were allowed to sell beer to-go.

“I have always loved the Flying Saucer, but this year made me love it so much more. “

Once we were modified to a strictly to-go operation, we all had to pivot from our typical business model and focus on surviving. Almost everything I was working on as Beer Director was put on pause. The new modus operandi was to participate in daily meetings with ownership and managers across the country so we could strategize together on how to stay alive. The hustle was real.

Olivia from Sugar Land Flying Saucer promoting growlers and other to-go beer options.
Charlotte Flying Saucer GM, Erik Hodgeman, delivers food to frontline workers.

We heavily focused on to-go beer deals to liquidate our product fast. It was very tough to let some of our long-term vendors know that we didn’t need them during the shutdown. It was even tougher to let our great staff know that we didn’t have work for them until things picked up. They all knew it was coming, but actually telling these people that you don’t need them due to something out of your control was emotional for all of our management teams.

“You guys can’t close because this is my family.”

Although none of this was ideal, and nothing that any of us were accustomed to, the ideas were flowing. I was blown away by the ideas for Special Glassware, Grocery Bundles, Special Six-Packs, and Growler Bundles. We were throwing everything at the wall!

Grocery bundles from Flying Saucer in 2020 — Grocery bundles were a quick pivot for Flying Saucers in 2020

Despite all of the great ideas and effort, the sales were not always there. Business offices were closing in most of our markets. Concert venues were not open, no sports, and no conventions. There was really no walk-in business. But, the people who always showed up were the Beeknurds. The absolute best regulars in the world. They always showed up to buy some beer and take care of the staff. The amount of love pouring in from our regulars brought me to tears several times.

“But, the people who always showed up were the Beeknurds. The absolute best regulars in the world.”

Beerknurd buying beer to go in 2020 from Fort Worth Flying Saucer — Beerknurd Monica Willems buying beer to-go from Fort Worth Flying Saucer
Photo Credit: Monica Willems

BEERKNURDS ARE FAMILY

I had a very impactful conversation early on in the pandemic with one such Beerknurd. This Beerknurd, who has several plates on the wall, was waiting in line to buy some to-go beer. I had not seen him since the pandemic started. He wanted to give me a hug and I wanted to take that big hug. But…you know…social distancing. Teary-eyed, he asked if we were going to make it. I told him I wasn’t sure, but I had great faith in our team up top and on the ground to make it happen. The part I will never forget is when he said, “You guys can’t close because this is my family.”

Anna and Duncan got married after meeting at the Flying Saucer eight years ago
Lake Beerknurds, Chris and Christie Benham, end their tour of all Flying Saucers in Charlotte.
Sean and Rebecca celebrate their brand new marriage with a kiss and beers at Fort Worth Flying Saucer

I grew up with a Dad who owned a bar. When my dad would leave to open the bar after we opened our presents Christmas morning, I remember asking him why he had to go to work on Christmas. He said that the bar is like family to some people. I don’t think I fully understood that until 2020. It really is a family.

Randy Heinz celebrates beer at San Antonio Flying Saucer — Randy Heinz celebrates his 4th Plate in the San Antonio Flying Saucer Ring of Honor.

The camaraderie at a bar is something I have always loved. It is just different than a restaurant. The flowing drinks, the good music, the holiday parties, the happy hours, the wedding receptions, the bachelor and bachelorette parties, the first dates, the date nights, and the plate parties. The plate parties at the Saucer are the best. It’s always great to see the pride in that Beerknurd’s face when you stand on the bar to toast them in front of all their peers. They have accomplished something that few have – the journey to 200 different beers. Whether knowingly or unknowingly, they have supported some of the best breweries in the world along the way.

Beerknurd plate party at Houston Flying Saucer — Kris McNeary was the first person to earn a plate during quarantine. We couldn’t be here without you, Kris. THANK YOU!

The staff at the Saucer is some of the best I have seen. I have witnessed some of our staff meet their significant others at the Saucer, get married, have families, and then return to gush their love for the Saucer. Some of our staff have grown from punk rebellious teenagers to fully-functioning adults. Some of our long-term staff have also grown into new roles with the company. I’ve met some of my best friends at the Flying Saucer and also watched my co-workers build lifelong friendships.

Homemade COVID-19 masks at Houston Flying Saucer — Houston Beerknurds with homemade masks. Fantastic!

Sure, we are a beer bar. A beer bar that has been open for nearly 20 years at most locations (25 at our original). But we’re also a home for people from every walk of life. And unfortunately, we lost some of those homes along the way. It’s a heartbreaking decision to have to say goodbye to cities that have supported the way Kansas City, Columbia, and Addison have. We miss you very much, Beerknurds. We’re sorry to not be there with you today. Thank you for the memories. Thank you for allowing us to serve you great beer.

THANK YOU, BEERKNURDS

But without being callous, 2020 marked the 25th Anniversary of the 1st day of Flying Saucer serving good beer to good people. Not many bars and restaurants can flex something like that. But, none of those bars or restaurants have what we have. We have this really great secret weapon that will be the reason that both the idea of and the actual brand “Flying Saucer Draught Emporium” made it through 2020. And it’s the reason that we will still be serving you the best possible beer we can get our hands on for many, many more years to come. That secret weapon is…the Beerknurds.

Friends and family drinking beer at Cypress Waters Flying Saucer — Addison Flying Saucer Beerknurds gather for beers at the Cypress Waters Flying Saucers. Beer, friends, family.

THANK YOU TO ALL THE BEERKNURDS. Thank you for coming in and supporting us this year. Thank you for every year, but thank you especially for this hard year. Thank you so much for supporting all of our great specials…and all our silly specials, too. Thank you for tipping way more than you should, and probably more than some of you could actually afford to, just to make sure that our staff was able to survive. I will never take a Beerknurd for granted again. I will run to change any television in the place for you as fast as I can from now on (even you, Randy).

I have always loved the Flying Saucer, but this year made me love it so much more. Thank you, Beerknurds, for treating us like family. Cheers!