By Mark Ambrogi
Deer Creek Brewery owner Jeff Eaton and Monon Beverage Brokers owner Sean Webster have joined forces in the craft beer world.
Eaton already had two sales people selling his Deer Creek brands.
“Jeff is a really good guy, and it’s fun working him and his team so far,” said Webster, who started selling Deer Creek brands Feb. 1. “I’ve been in sales longer than they have, so I have a bit more experience than they do. It’s great seeing them grow. By adding me, I can give them a little more direction and get to do events with them at different venues. We can push business to each other.”
Eaton, who also owns Barley Island Brewing Company in Noblesville, opened the Deer Creek Brewery tasting room in Noblesville in November 2015 at Cumberland Road and Cherry Street. The name pays homage to the Deek Creek Music Center (now Klipsch).
“We like the fact that Sean can manage the sales activity that we already had going on,” Eaton said. “I’m pretty busy with the brewery and Barley Island, and my business partner, Eric (Smith), is doing the financials and running the tasting room so Sean can provide sales management for the existing sales effort that we had. He can set up more events and tastings.”
Deer Creek has 16 craft beer options at its tasting room, including four Barley Island brands. Webster, a 28-year-old Noblesville resident, is selling only the Deer Creek brands.
Eaton, a Fishers resident, said there are four year-round Deer Creek brands and eight rotating ones.
Barley Island features Deer Creek’s 12 brands.
“We’re promoting Noblesville as this is a town with two breweries,” Webster said. “Deer Creek and Barley Island have totally different personalities, so it’s kind of a fun project. I’ve been drinking his beer since I was 21, so I’m ecstatic to sell a beer.”
Eaton said he knew Webster as a customer at Barley Island and Deer Creek.
“I started seeing him at events and festivals and started talking to him about his new venture, and it seemed like a good fit for us,” Eaton said.
Webster, who started Monon Beverage Brokers in October, has teamed with other Indiana brands, such as Scarlet Lane, Indiana Whiskey and Broken Beaker.
For more, visit deercreekbrewery.com.
