Meet Kyle Houser | General Manager at Voodoo Brewing Co. – Erie

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

Hi Kyle, we’d love for you to start things off by telling us something about your industry that we and others not in the industry might be unaware of?
The one thing that most people outside of the hospitality industry are probably unaware of is the amount of work that happens behind the scenes. I have worked in various different locations in the industry, but the one constant is that the work leading up to an event or even just a regular day of service is more than the average person realizes. Many of the events that I have planned require months of planning and hard work by a large number of people. Even the small stuff though, has a team behind its success. Day to day service at any given pub, restaurant, or hotel, has a group of unseen heroes making sure that your visit at the location is the best it can be. Here at Voodoo Brewery, we have a whole facility making the brews that everyone enjoys, but also a team that supports our pubs with menu planning, art, marketing, and so much more.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
At a very young age I took to cooking and baking. It was something that I always enjoyed and as I grew older it was a passion that never diminished but spread to different facets. I went to college for culinary arts and specialized in baking. The school I attended covered a wide spread of culinary industry skills including a wine and beer making and appreciation. After college I worked at several different restaurants and bakeries in the Chataqua and Erie areas. I gained a wealth of knowledge from the variety of the places I worked that would later serve as a backbone to my career. I took a break from cooking for a few years and became the manager at a small bar. It was this experience that I switched my sights to the beverage side of things. I was making my own signature cocktails and took a personal interest in wine. Later I got a job working at a wine bar that truly let me take advantage of this newfound passion. I got my WSET level 2 award in wines and embraced being the sommelier at the establishment. My desire to learn and grow would have me leave that position to where I am now at Voodoo. Now I am learning the ins and outs of another face of the beverage world. I am excited to tackle this experience and add cicerone to my resume.
The path was far from easy but the key I feel is pushing forward, seeing the learning experience in every situation, and chasing your passion. It is in the difficult moments and even our failures that we grow the most. I have had so many people in my personal and professional life who have inspired me and helped me grow.
If there is one thing that I would like to give back to the world, it is to return the favor by teaching and inspiring others.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love the outdoors and have a passion for food and drinks so I would show them the best of Erie eats and outdoor activities. Small diners are the place to go for breakfasts and Erie has a great selection. We would take time to hit some of the awesome nature trails like Headwaters and Asbury. A stop at my wine bar past at Cloud9 would be a must for sure. Also, we would have to grab the kayaks and spend a day out on the water. The sunsets here are amazing so a trip to Presque Isle for a sunset is another must. Lastly, Erie has lots of great chocolate places, but Romolo’s has got to be my favorite.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are so many people that deserve a shoutout in my life’s story. My mother was and still is one of my biggest supporters. I would have never been able to do everything that I have done without her love and support during college and many other times in my life. Speaking of college, Chef Chip Magalhaes was an inspiration to set high goals and put in the work to achieve them. He was always tough but fair and he wasn’t afraid to let me know when I wasn’t living up to my potential. Lastly, my wife, Kristi, has been an amazing partner in every aspect. She has encouraged me to reach further, stand my ground, and is the amazing at helping me through the tough times when it is sometimes hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel.