By Dr. Son Tran, and Tim Bemis - Special for the Cobleskill Herald
HOWE CAVERNS — Just off Caverns Road in Howes Cave, minutes from downtown Cobleskill, stands a place where beer is brewed with more than hops—it’s brewed with heart, history, and a bold sense of freedom. Serious Brewing Co., a father-and-son venture, is the product of one man’s decision to leave the predictable world of IT and pour himself into a dream that tastes as bold as it sounds.
That man is Bill Felter, Founder and Chief Brewer, a former systems engineer for a large grocery chain, responsible for the relentless, high-pressure world of credit card processing. On call 24/7, 365 days a year, Bill realized he was working to maintain a lifestyle that wasn’t his. “I wanted to be independent,” he said. “And I loved beer.” So he walked away, and started brewing a new life with his father, Fred, by his side.
Together, Bill and Fred built Serious Brewing Co. from the ground up, investing personal savings, securing a grant from National Grid to upgrade their building, and eventually pouring over half a million dollars into their passion project. What they’ve created is more than a brewery - it’s a sanctuary for community, conversation, and craft. Their Stonewalled Maple Porter, made with rich local syrup, is a seasonal tribute to Schoharie County’s roots. Their Bine of My Existence IPA is a hop-forward fan favorite. Every small batch is brewed with care, and every spent grain is donated to local farms for livestock feed. Even the customers take part as unofficial taste-testers, giving feedback that helps shape the next release.
I recently had the opportunity to visit Serious Brewing Co. with one of my entrepreneurship students, Tim Bemis, whose curiosity and energy always spark great conversations. As someone who started brewing beer in my home country of Vietnam as an early startup venture, I was personally excited to meet Bill and talk shop. What began as a casual outing turned into an inspiring, eye-opening encounter. Bill has also contributed to the community by teaching brewing and distilling at SUNY Cobleskill, sharing his knowledge and passion with the young generation, and Tim happens to be one of his former students!
When asked what advice he would give to the younger generation, Bill didn’t blink: “You often need to work 80 hours a week to not work 40 hours a week for your whole life.” That mentality defines his life today. For nearly 8 years, he’s worked nearly every day, often alone, because his first employee will be the most expensive—requiring insurance and compensation systems his small business isn’t yet ready to support. In April, the brewery closed for the first time — Bill was finally taking his one and only vacation in all those years.
Despite the workload, Bill and Serious Brewing are not alone. They are part of a 300-member regional brewery association where small brewers compete by cooperating. While each keeps their recipe close, they share resources, attend rotating “industry nights,” and help each other out during “canning days” when beer needs to be packaged timely.
One of Bill’s proudest accomplishments was reviving yeast recovered from a shipwreck by a friend who excavated sunken vessels. That historic yeast gave rise to a unique brew that captured national attention, earning front-page coverage in brewing magazines — even Time. The project brought global attention to Serious Brewing and SUNY Cobleskill, including a feature in USA Today’s “News from All 50 States” for New York, on the front page of just about every newspaper in America when the story was picked up by the AP. Although it was eventually sidelined due to COVID, it remains one of the most exciting and memorable endeavors Serious Brewing has undertaken.
So, if you’re ever near Howe Caverns, stop by Serious Brewing Co. Order a flight. Ask for Bill and Fred. You’ll leave not just with a great beer—but with a story worth toasting.
A busy canning day for Chief Brewer Bill and his partners from Helderberg Mountain Brewing Co. in East Berne - left to right: Sean McGrath, Bill Felter, Mike Young, and Mike Wensel.
Bill taking time off work for the interview with Tim Bemis, his former student from SUNY Cobleskill.
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