Meet Stephen Demczuk | Brewer, Founder & President

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

Hi Stephen, what role has risk played in your life or career?
Taking a challenge can be risky. Challenges make life interesting. So, an interesting life is likely full of risk taking challenges. A risk can be climbing a mountain peak or investing your life savings to start a business. Performing routine tasks without risks and where the outcome is predetermined is not challenging, nor interesting.

I took a risk, small that it was, in leaving one university to go another to finish my degree. I took risks living and working in three different countries in Europe. All were a challenge, but interesting.

My biggest risk taken was to retire from science early on in my career and go into business. The risk in this case was substantial because it occurred in another country where I was not a citizen and there was no social safety net in case of failure. On top of that, I had a wife and two young children to support. What I had to fall back on was an education. Education afforded me the luxury in taking risks and the flexibility to find employment, at least back home in the U.S.

Taking risks have provided an understanding to my limits. I took a risk at University of Maryland to play two sports- football and lacrosse. I was sidelined due to injury and forced to retire from the former. The young, naive and invincible athlete saw his limitations. I came to realize by playing two sports I took risks with my studies and social life (I had none).

Taking risks early on prepared me for challenges later in life. There comes a time when the outcome of a taken risk will not turnout favorable and its time to call it quits. For me, this happened in Sweden. I wanted to open a brewpub back in early 1990s. This was before Sweden entered the EU. Not possible, the law simply did not allow serving beer where it was produced. I continued to try but there was no possibility of change in the law or making an exception. I stopped pursuing my dream, but took up another risk when I moved to Luxembourg. Today, with Sweden being a member of the EU, there are nearly 400 brewpubs across the country; I like to say I was simply ahead of the times.

Negative consequences are not the only outcome of a failed taken risk. Failure often provides the risk taker a sense of direction. They are not “failures” per se. They are but a means for course realignment and to keep life interesting.

What should our readers know about your business?
Where I am today and how I got here was not easy. I have finished a memoir on my travails in sports, education/science and business. Here is a short synopsis of a few topics: after receiving a PhD in biochemistry and molecular biology a week later I was in Geneva, Switzerland for postdoctorate work. Most of my 14 years in Europe was conducting research but along the way I became intrigued with beer. So much so, that I tried to build a brewpub in Stockholm in 1991, but it was not legal. I then moved to Luxembourg and after two years quit science to build a brewery in Arlon, Belgium. The brewery never materialized and I lost all my savings. Not being a citizen and living in Luxembourg, I had no right to work outside of the purview to which I was invited to the country– science.

With a fellow ex-pat from Illinois and little money, we created Beer Around the World, Europe’s first beer-of-the-month club. We brought in beer from small breweries from around the world, or beer not yet imported into Europe. Through a German beer importer, Wolfgang Stark of Haus der 131 Biere, he suggested to brew beer in Germany using an American theme. He asked what to call the brand and in seconds I replied, “The Raven” after the poem by Edgar Allan Poe. That’s how our brand got started.

Two years later we set up shop back home. I moved back to Baltimore after nearly 30 years since leaving high school. I knew no one. But, I established our company (Baltimore-Washngton Beer Works, dba RavenBeer), did all the marketing, designing and ordering packaging and found people to invest.

We did not start out with our own brewery, but contracted with newly established Clipper City Brewery (now called Heavy Seas). Back then in Maryland, and still today, contract brewing for an entity not owning a brewers license is not legal. So, the brewery with the brewers license, owns the brand, bills the wholesaler and receives payment from the wholesaler for the sale of someone else’s product.

Here lies the problem. All contract brewed sales revenue go into another company’s bank account. As an established company showing little income entering your account, try to get a loan. Several times during our nearly 13 years with Heavy Seas, we tried to build a brewery, but never found funding. Tried later again, but this time we partnered up with two other entities. We were, unfortunately, underfunded and had to sell to the brewery’s current owner.

So, we again became a contract brewer within the brewery we helped build, and like before, another company owned our brands and received our sales revenue. By then, we had seven beers all named after poems and stories by Edgar Allan Poe. The design of our brand packaging was greatly helped by world renown political cartoonist Kevin Kallaugher (Kal) of the Economist Magazine out of London and Baltimore Sun.

We had some of the finest beer and the best packaging hands down. Our labels, case carriers, tap handles always took gold or best of show in every international packaging competition entered. Thrillist, Daily Meal and Tastings.com recognized our tap handles as some of the best in the country and worldwide.

I am most proud in what I believe are some first packaging accomplishments in the brewing industry:

– Each brand has its own unique colored bottle cap, all with Edgar Allan Poe holding the proper glass for the beer beneath.
– Each beer is branded after a story or poem by Poe. We are the only brewery with brand marketing entirely dedicated to a single literary figure.
– The top of the 24 bottle case carton has six uniquely designed beer glasses representing our first six brands. However, the glass representing the beer in the box is the only design in full color. This helps educate the beer drinker to serve the beer in the proper glassware.
– On the six-pack side panel of Annabel Lee White is written three stanzas of Poe’s poem Annabel Lee. The cartoon image of Annabel Lee points to the carton’s underside containing the remainder of Poe’s last written poem.
– Each tap handle is unique for its brand. They are shaped as books with the brand name and gold tooling printed on the spine, looking as if published in the 19th century. On top of the book rests a hand painted bust of Edgar Allan Poe.
– The label for our 20th Anniversary Raven Special Lager has five different Raven labels from the past 20 years composing a background collage, creating a historical illustration of the brand’s past labels.

Tensions grew in our “contract” relationship with the brewery and we terminated our relationship. And today, after being the first “contract” brewer in the state, we are now the first to license our products in the state. So, instead of having someone else brew our beer and receive the sales of our products from our wholesalers, we now have them do production, sales and marketing and are paid per ce (case equivalent) sold. The agreement allows us to build a brewpub and to make the same brands if we so desire. We can attend festivals, trade shows and fundraisers using the product from our licensed manufacturer. Our partner today is Oliver’s Brewing Company out of Baltimore.

This is now the first time since 1996 that I can honestly say, it’s become easier. In some ways, the downtime resulting from the Covid pandemic was a blessing. And today, I could truly reflect on where I want to go and what I want to do. So, when the opportunity came to license our product, the decision to go in that direction was easy.

Now, sitting back and enjoying a RavenBeer, I can truly say that “The Taste is Poetic.”

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Well, let’s say we start with dinner. My first choice is always Annabel Lee Tavern in the Canton section of Baltimore. Owner, Kurt Bragunier, is an Edgar Allan Poe fan. Kurt is also an artist and has fashioned his corner tavern in amazing artwork, much of it his own. The food, not your standard bar cuisine, is fantastic and, of course, there are fine beers, some being RavenBeer.

I once took a group to Annabel Lee Tavern and one individual was from out of town and wanted to experience a classic Baltimore corner bar he heard so much about. At the end of the L-shaped bar he sat with full view of the tavern. There are no TV’s and Kurt plays softly big band music in the background. He kept smiling throughout the time we spent at Annabel’s . You could see he was in his corner just taking it all in. When asked of his impressions, his response was “this is fantastic, even better than I imagined.”

If we were to hit some other pubs throughout the week, I would likely take my out of town visitor to The Owl Bar on Chase Street in Mt Vernon-Belvedere neighborhood. The Belvedere Hotel bar opened in 1903 and has played host to some of the most famous and influential people throughout the years. It survived and operated throughout prohibition (reason for the owl) and remains a landmark in Baltimore.

On a more literary sense, I would take my friend to the Atomic Books store in the Hampden section of Baltimore. Hampden is an eclectic artistic and blue collar community where the somewhat weird is normal. Co-owners Benn and Rachel are the best and carry a most interesting selection of reading material. Much of it being in the arts category. Also, you may even find John Waters hanging out and checking out book titles. Grab some reading material and head to the rear of the store where there is a bar, and there you will find local beer and Benn.

Sticking to the literary theme, a trip to the historic residential neighborhood of Mt. Vernon-Belvedere, one can spend a day wondering about. But no trip goes without seeing the Peabody Library, formerly known as the Library of the Peabody Institute which is now part of the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University. It’s one of the most spectacular libraries in the U.S. Outside its doors is the Washington Monument, the first major structure in America dedicated to our country’s first president. And a couple minute walk there is the Walters Art Museum, an amazing collecting of art much from the personal collections of entrepreneur William Thompson Walters and his son Henry. Not far away is the Baltimore Art Museum, attached to the Homewood campus of Johns Hopkins University.

Heading south toward the Inner Harbor is Westminster Hall, the resting place of many famous Baltimoreans. There, you can find members of the Poe family, particularly Edgar Allan Poe. The cemetery was established in 1786. In 1852, the church was constructed on brick piers above the graves, creating catacombs beneath. Today, the church and cemetery are surrounded by the University of Maryland Law and Medical schools. Might as well walk a few more blocks west over MLK Boulevard just beyond University of Maryland BioPark to Amity Street, the home of Edgar Allan Poe. The red brick row home is a museum to Baltimore’s most famous author. It is also the site of the International Edgar Allan Poe Festival on the weekend of Poe’s death in October.

The arts and culture are alive and well in Baltimore. Heading back to Poe’s grave and around the corner is the Hippodrome Theater and next door soon to be the Exchange Theatre. Across the street is The Everyman Theatre. Heading back to Mt Vernon you run into the Chesapeake Shakespeare Company and minutes by foot from Peabody Library is Center Stage. There are 30-some theatres in Baltimore.

And if you hadn’t enough of Poe. Visit his statue at University of Baltimore. See the display of Poe artifacts in a dedicated room at the Enoch Pratt Library or have a fine beverage like RavenBeer at the Tell Tale Tavern on Charles Street or Apropoe’s at the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront Hotel. If not yet tired of Edgar (Eddie as we call him), coming soon, enjoy a Poe mystery at the National Edgar Allan Poe Theatre, dedicated to his writings, or in season, watch the Baltimore Ravens (named after Poe’s poem) whose mascot is named Poe or take in a world class magic act at Poe’s Magic Theatre.

I would be remiss if I did not take my guest to The Book Thing. A free book store. Thousands of titles to go, shelved across several rooms. The Book Thing even supplies bags and boxes to carry away your readings. It sits directly across the street of RavenBeer’s former brewery, Peabody, a renown historical name here in Baltimore.

There is so much to do, see and hear in Charm City. From the live music scene, the arts (e.g., Artscape is the largest free arts festival in America), foods galore for the foodies, and to the many diverse and interesting neighborhoods to stroll through.

But, one should not leave our town without experiencing a local tradition, Maryland steamed crabs. Crabs out of the Chesapeake Bay are steamed in vinegar, beer, red peppers and lots of either J.O. Spice or Old Bay seasoning. Hell, I will not single out one particular crab house. There are so many excellent venues for steamed crabs. And the best restaurant for Maryland crabs cakes, I hate to list any if offending many.

And if you are fed up with arts and culture and superb food, there is always the “fastest game on two feet,” lacrosse. Baltimore is home of the best 1-A college lacrosse in the country– Hopkins, Loyola, Towson and coming to town is always my alma mater from down the road University of Maryland. There is also the midshipmen of the Naval Academy from Annapolis.

On a warm spring day, check out the game, men’s or women’s. Afterwards, meet friends at a local tavern, have a crab cake, maybe even a RavenBeer, and then you will know why we call this area “the land of pleasant living.”

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are many who have supported and inspired me throughout my life. First, I want to recognize my parents, Berdena and Bernard Demczuk. Neither entered high school. Mom was a Rosie the Riveter earning $5.00 a week during World War II at Bethlehem Steel in Baltimore and dad worked in the Civilian Conservation Corps and went off to war in the Pacific. They encouraged me and my brother to be the best at what we do, get an education and to “have a better life” than they. Because of their guidance, my bother and I were the first to attend college on both sides of the family, first to earn masters degrees and the first to earn PhDs.

I must also shout out at my brother. When he was off to college he still remained a close big brother. He sent work out programs to me before football season started and made sure that I stayed on regimen. As a freshmen in college, he was the big brother who looked after me and encouraged me to succeed, stay focused and to stick with it when I was down. He kept in touch as I moved around the U.S. for school and Europe for work. His letters were always inspiring.

There are others who inspired me. My lacrosse coach at Maryland, Buddy Beardmore. He was tough, fair and smart. He led his teams to national championships. On a count of three, the team always broke out of the huddle with the shout “Be the Best!” That expression has always stayed with me.

And there were many others who inspired me. Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker whose tireless work for human rights, women’s rights, peace and justice was inspiring. The Plowshares (Jesuits and lay people) without second thoughts risked their lives for peace and nuclear disarmament. In graduate school there was Carol. She was a social worker. I could not believe how much she worked, with little compensation and respect for what she was doing. God bless the social workers all over.

Website: ravenbeer.com

Instagram: ravenbeer

Linkedin: stephen demczuk

Facebook: ravenbeer

Image Credits
Photos by Gabriella Demczuk & Desiree Stover Photography (Stephen sitting on cases and pint on bar)