As Burn ‘Em Brewing made its move to a new location in 2024, the brewpub made it a point of emphasis to bring a motivated cast of staff members with it. While some employees have been with the restaurant for a long time, others joined the team as the move was underway.
One bartender who was added to the team during the transition period was Heather Lewis. Growing up in the Region, Lewis grew up with her mom, dad, three older brothers, and multiple cousins. She decided to leave the Region for more than 20 years before finding her way back into Northwest Indiana.
“I’ve been with Burn ‘Em Brewing for a little over a year now, since the new location opened,” Lewis said. “The entire team is great. We’re an eclectic group of misfits that all work really well together.”
Burn ‘Em Brewing has provided Lewis with several reasons to look forward to each shift. She feels comfortable in the environment and loves the connections that she’s been able to make at work.
“One of the things I love most about Burn ‘Em Brewing is that I can be myself and not censored,” Lewis said. “My favorite Burn ‘Em beer is the Hessian Horseman. This is truly my kind of place. We have a lot of awesome customers who come in regularly as well.”
Lewis lives her life everyday in a very methodical fashion. She compares it to the movie “Groundhog Day” due to the pattern of living in a routine. When she’s not working at Burn ‘Em Brewing, she loves spending quality time with her family at home. Lewis is also an artist, entrepreneur, and animal lover who fancies Sunday drives.
Another bartender at Burn ‘Em Brewing who grew up close to the Region is Joe Hinman. Similar to Lewis, Hinman has spent close to a year with the brewpub. He grew up in Three Oaks, Michigan, so he’s seen plenty of familiar faces throughout his time of working at Burn ‘Em Brewing. Hinman is also involved in a local government for a small town in Michigan. He’s a community enthusiast who loves to lend the helping hand, whether it’s within the workplace or not.
“I host the trivia night here at Burn ‘Em Brewing,” Hinman said. “We do pretty much everything in house and put on shows ourselves. The big thing here is that everybody is allowed to be themselves. That’s sort of the Burn ‘Em culture that we put on for our customers.”
Prior to joining Burn ‘Em Brewing, Hinman would occasionally feel self conscious or worried about his shortcomings. He appreciates the way this team has made it feel like a second home to him in the short amount of time that he’s been there.
“We all have our strengths and weaknesses,” Hinman said. “Nothing is ever perfect. For us, we pick up for one another where someone might not have that strength. It’s nice because I’m never made to feel bad by my coworkers. We recognize the gaps that need to be filled and take action without having to be asked.”
Aside from being a presence in the community, Hinman enjoys reading and music in his free time. He finds ways to volunteer and spend time in nature as much as possible.
For more information on Burn ‘Em Brewing, you can visit its website.