Meet Eddie Gutierrez | Founder and Brewer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Eddie Gutierrez and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Eddie, what role has risk played in your life or career?
In comparing risk to reward in much of my decision making, I have focused on reward more than risk. Having said that, risk has always been a grounding mechanism to keep life on the rails. Although I, like everyone, have taken many risks throughout life for better or for worse, the big ones that made me a small business owner in my mountain hometown are ones driven by heart and a strong calling for what life should be.

Looking back a decade ago, I made the leap from a sturdy career that would have provided a comfortable life for me and my family to a blue collar brewing job that was hard on my back, and my bank account, because there was something in the industry that resonated with me and I knew it was my true calling.

Fast forward to a few years ago when my wife and I started to piece together the idea of Downshift Brewing Company. We knew that we wanted to focus on our family, quality of life, and being a bigger part of a community while creating a brewery that could focus on the good that life has to offer and express it in our culture, our taprooms, and our beer.

We are still early in our Downshift journey but I can tell you that many more risks will be taken. These risks will continue to come from a place that will guide us and Downshift Brewing Company in a direction that reflects our values and view of the world.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
At Downshift Brewing Company, we choose to celebrate the beauty and brevity of life and embrace the elements that make it great. We choose beer as an expression of that and build community on these ideals. We are proud to call New Mexico our home and are excited to celebrate the best of what life has to offer with our community.

Nothing is easy in starting a business. The easiest part of starting the brewery was declaring I wanted to start a brewery at the ripe old age of 21. Since then, there have been winding roads, ups and downs and over a decade of preparation to make that statement true. Overcoming all the challenges along the way comes down to will power, trusting in the vision, and at times, brute force and ignorance. What I have learned along the way is that it takes the hard work of many to get a successful business off the ground. You have to find the people who share and believe in your vision and put your trust in those people.
Without them, we would not be where we are today.

The brewery is founded by people who grew up in New Mexico, moved away to master the crafts needed to develop this business, and returned to New Mexico with the desire to be a part of and grown our community. Beyond that, we chose the name Downshift to reflect a change in course and perspective in life that we experienced along the way. We were living a fast paced life in Houston Texas, seemingly on top of the world but at the end of the day, the things that mattered most were family, community, quality of life, and good beer! That is what got us here.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Ruidoso is a small mountain village in southern New Mexico. I grew up here and when people visit, I like to show them all the things that made me want to move back and be a part of the community. Just driving through the village, you can see Sierra Blanca (our tallest mountain), wild horses, deer, and elk that have all taken up residency in town, many locally owned businesses that make Ruidoso great and unique. The hiking and biking trails offer more intimate views of the beautiful Lincoln National Forrest as well as some incredible views. The winter brings snow and the ski resort is another fun adventure. During the summer, the horse race track also offers an exciting spectacle.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I would like to give a shoutout to a number of mentors/supporters that helped inspire me to follow the path I have. Dr. Stuart Munson-Mcgee who first introduced me to brewing beer, Josh Gatell whose management style, philosophy, and skills are something I strive to implement each and every day, Brock Wagner and the original lead shift brewers who showed me the ropes as a professional brewer and helped me find my own brewing philosophy, Jasper Riddle for being an invaluable business mentor, and last but not least my parents, wife and kids who help shape who I am by bringing out the best in me every day.

Website: downshift.beer

Instagram: @downshiftbrewingco

Facebook: @downshiftbrewing

Image Credits
AdamSki Media (Adam Duran)