‘I felt like I was dying’: How Fort Worth brewery owner got back to work after cancer
Fritz Rahr isn’t sure he would be here today if it wasn’t for catching his cancer diagnosis early.
The 56-year-old starting feeling bad a couple years ago and chalked it up to getting older. The aches and pains continued, and Rahr still couldn’t figure out why. He finally relents and visits his doctor. A few tests later, he knew why he wasn’t feeling well. He had stage three colorectal cancer that had spread to 23 lymph nodes around his abdomen.
“If I would have waited longer it would have probably gone to stage four and I would have been in a lot of trouble,” Rahr said.
After two years away, Rahr is in cancer remission and back running his namesake Fort Worth business — Rahr & Sons Brewing Company. Being back in the saddle at the brewery is surreal for Rahr, who said his cancer journey was a “battle.” He was told cancer treatment would take him to within an inch of his life, but not kill him.
Rahr said he chuckled at the description, only to later live the words.
“I was absolutely miserable,” Rahr said. “I felt like I was dying, and I guess, technically I kind of was.”
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Rahr’s new outlook on cancer early detection
Before his diagnosis, Rahr said cancer was something he always heard afflicted someone else.
The disease touched him personally through family and friends, but not directly. Through that, Rahr said he always heard that early detection was important — catching the cancer before it had the opportunity to spread.
“I don’t know if I necessarily gave it another thought,” Rahr said. “Because you’re dealing with all the other things in your life that you’re dealing with.”
Now having gone through his cancer battle, Rahr said he can’t stress enough how important it is to get tested early.
Getting tested for cancer may seem like a thing those middle-aged or older should do, but as Rahr puts it, “If you don’t feel right, go get checked out”.
Even to his two sons in their 20’s, Rahr reiterates to them how important early detection is. He’s even planning on using the brewery as a platform to encourage cancer awareness.
“Because if you do [get tested], it may not be that big of a deal in relation to what the other outcomes can be,” Rahr said.
Back running Rahr & Sons Brewing Company with the family
When Rahr stepped away from the brewery two years ago, he left the keys to the kingdom to his two sons, Will, 29, and Hayden, 25.
The brother’s ran day-to-day operations, from brewing beer to getting it into customer’s hands. Rahr said it gave peace of mind while he dealt with tests and treatment.
In fact, Rahr said his sons taking over fulfilled a 20-year dream.
When he started Rahr & Sons Brewing Company in 2004, he always envisioned his sons taking over the brewery eventually. Now two decades on, Rahr admits they’re not kids anymore, rather, young men with “tremendous responsibilities” at the brewery.
“We’ve come to that point,” Rahr said. “It’s incredibly satisfying, fulfilling all those words that would make a father incredibly happy to see their kids in leadership positions of responsibility.”
With Rahr being away, he said it threw his sons “into the proverbial fire” and they had to learn quickly how to steer the ship.
Along with them doing “one hell of a good job,” Rahr said seeing his sons in action made him prouder. The future seemed secure. Knowing that leaves him with profound joy.
“And then you know what, then they can worry about the next generation and what they want to do with it,” Rahr said.
20-year anniversary plans, future of Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
Back in February, the brewery posted on Facebook that rumors of the establishment closing were not true.
When Rahr spoke to the Star-Telegram, he said he wasn’t sure where the rumors came from and that the brewery is “definitely not going away”.
Instead they’re gearing up to host the brewery’s 20-year anniversary this year.
Rahr said he’s planning to host various events at the brewery over the summer and fall. The best place for people to find out what’s happening at the brewery is to follow along on social media.
“Everyone take a deep breath,“ Rahr said. ”We’re not going anywhere.”
Rahr & Sons Brewing Company is open 4 to 10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m. Friday, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday at 701 Galveston Ave.
