Technically, Tim O”Meara was born in Ukiah. But that”s only because the nearest hospital staff for such an occasion was located across the county line. Otherwise, he claims Upper Lake as home. In fact, O”Meara”s grandfather flipped the tassle with the high school”s first ever graduating class. He studied graphic design at CSU-Chico, not too far away, and worked full time in the field until he and his brother Alex opened O”Meara Bros. Brewing Company, a craft brewery and restaurant in Lakeport that also features live music and an Irish soundtrack. It”s not a stretch — O”Meara had been homebrewing for many years before venturing into the professional side.
1. What”s it like brewing beer in wine country?
That”s a good question. It”s interesting because it”s fun to expand on people”s knowledge of beer. But it”s also a challenge because people here tend to need a little more help to understand craft beer. We don”t have as much of a tradition of it in this county.
2. But opening a restaurant? Are you crazy?
We”re probably crazy, yeah. You have to be a little crazy — in a good way.
3. Is running a restaurant as hard as people say?
Harder. It means being exhausted at all times, it means being half asleep, a lot of stress, balancing things, making sure the numbers work. But it”s also much more rewarding than anyone says.
4. What have you learned from it so far?
If you do something different, be prepared for it to be more popular than you ever imagined. We”ve been way busier than we expected. We”ve had to hire more staff.
5. Do you find time to have a beer?
Ironically I don”t drink as much as I used to. I taste it all day long for work, but I don”t get to sit down and have a pint.
6. Miss it?
You know, I do — a little. But seeing people enjoy my beer fills that gap.
7. What is it about beer that drew you in?
It”s the art of it. It”s like cooking, like painting, like design — my old job. It”s a problem to be solved — a creative expression as much as a job.
8. Do you have a favorite?
Our stout. But my favorite style is Saison [Belgian farmhouse-style ale].
9. What”s wrong with Bud Light?
In theory there”s nothing wrong with Bud Light. The production is tight. But it tastes like nothing. I only drink that stuff when I”m trying to sober up [laughs]. But everybody”s different.
10. At the end of the day, are you sick of Irish music?
I get sick of certain songs. Other songs are timeless.
