When Jason Williams left his 12-year aviation career to wash kegs at a Sacramento brewery, he had no idea he was launching into what would become his true calling. Now, eight years into his tenure as Head Brewer at Burning Barrel Brewing Company, Williams has established himself as one of the region's most innovative brewers, creating everything from a carrot-infused beer inspired by a Singapore cocktail to smoothie-style sours that challenge every expectation of what craft beer can be.

"I've always enjoyed the creative aspect of it, and the freedom to sort of come up with an idea and then just make it happen all the way through," Williams explains from Burning Barrel's brewery off of Sun Center Drive in Rancho Cordova. "It's a job I would have never guessed in a million years I would be doing, but here I am."

A World of Flavors

Williams' unconventional path to brewing may be his greatest asset. Born and raised in Houston, his military service took him across the globe—from Florida to Hawaii, and on deployments throughout Asia where he visited 12 different countries. Each destination became an opportunity to explore radical flavor combinations that would later inform his brewing philosophy.

"Living in Hawaii, the Japanese influence is huge there, and the Polynesian influence is huge," Williams recalls. "Then going on deployments, I went all over Asia and just tried everything I possibly could. That showed me radical flavors from all over the place, which has been part of my creativity."

This global perspective translates directly into Burning Barrel's tap list, where you're just as likely to find a beer inspired by a dish Williams encountered in Singapore as you are a meticulously-crafted lager. He and co-founder Duncan Alexander regularly exchange ideas drawn from their daily lives, whether it’s a mind-blowing dish at a restaurant, an unusual cocktail, even drinks from the Starbucks secret menu that baristas have created over the years.

"We tried Captain Crunch cereal flavors in our setting, and it works," Williams says with a laugh. "That's the fun part of it for me."

*Jason Williams is the Head Brewer of Burning Barrel Brewing Company in the City of Rancho Cordova’s Barrel District.*

A Secret Ingredient? Rancho Cordova Water

While creativity drives Burning Barrel's experimental edge, Williams is equally passionate about the technical precision that makes it all possible. And he credits a surprising advantage: Rancho Cordova's exceptional water quality.

"We have really high water quality in Rancho, at least in this very specific pocket," Williams explains. The brewery sits just two miles from a water treatment plant off Coloma Road, which provides them with ultra-clean, mineral-light water. "It's really good water for making lagers, and it's a good base water. I can add my own minerals, I can add my own hardness, or change whatever I need to, instead of having water that's already complicated and then I've got to fix it."

This combination of pristine base ingredients and technical expertise allows Williams to maintain the highest quality standards while pushing creative boundaries—a balance that has earned Burning Barrel numerous awards, including multiple accolades for their flagship beer, Sidepull Pillows Pilsner.

Making Sours Approachable

Perhaps nothing exemplifies Burning Barrel's innovative spirit more than their approach to sour beers. At any given time, the brewery features five to seven different sours on tap which may be an unusually large selection that might intimidate newcomers to the style. But Williams has engineered his sours to be exceptionally approachable.

"Most of the stuff we do here is not barrel-aged sours," he clarifies. "We start with a very neutral base beer that we then sour here in house, so it yields a really clean product that tastes sort of like a lemonade. Then we layer our fruits in."

The result is a spectrum of sours ranging from light and crushable to heavily fruited smoothie-style creations, all designed to be welcoming rather than challenging. Williams credits his well-trained staff with helping customers navigate the options: "They're very well-versed in walking you through what kind of flavors you like and guiding you."

Never the Same Beer Twice

What truly sets Burning Barrel apart in Sacramento's competitive craft beer scene is their commitment to constant innovation. With the exception of a few core beers like Sidepull PIllows and the seasonal Fireside Stories porter, the brewery operates on a philosophy of perpetual creativity.

"That's kind of one of our models here. We don't really make the same thing twice," Williams says. "We're constantly trying to innovate and come up with new hops or new flavors or new products. We try to stay on the front edge of that."

This approach extends beyond beer. Williams now collaborates with Burning Barrel Co-Owner and Duncan's father, Jack Alexander, on the distillery side of Burning Barrel's expanding operation, creating base liquids that get fermented and distilled into American whiskeys and, soon, rum. "I used to distill at home just for a hobby," Williams notes. "Now getting able to kind of dive my research brain back into that mode has been quite fun."

Looking Ahead

As the holiday season approaches, Burning Barrel continues to do what it does best: create unexpected experiences. The brewery will host its annual Christmas party on Friday, December 19th at 6pm, featuring special beer releases, a DJ, and an ugly sweater contest at 7pm. Its new weekly music bingo on Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m. has become a local favorite.

For Williams, now in his 10th year of professional brewing, the journey from aviation to award-winning brewer represents more than a career change. It’s proof that following your passion, even down unexpected paths, can lead somewhere extraordinary.

"I've always sort of just tried to chase what I can find to make me happy," he reflects. "Aviation was and still is that, but brewing is really my passion."

And for craft beer lovers in Rancho Cordova and beyond, that passion translates into some of the most creative, quality-driven beer being produced in the region today.

Burning Barrel Brewing Company is located in Rancho Cordova's Barrel District. Visit barreldistrict.com to learn more about member businesses and upcoming events.