One-time line cook, Drew Gillespie, promoted to president of Pike Brewing

Yesterday at a private party at Tankard and Tun in Seattle, Pike Brewing Co. Founders Charles and Rose Ann Finkel named Drew Gillespie president of the company. Auspiciously, December 19 is Gillespie’s 20th anniversary at Pike: He started as a line cook at The Pike Pub in 1998 before working his way up to vice president of operations in 2011 and becoming co-owner alongside the Finkels, Patti Baker and Gary Marx in 2015.

“Pike is an independent family business and Drew is part of the family. He is a caring, ethical individual of integrity,” said Rose Ann. The Finkels call Drew’s promotion a natural development, and the clear next step in the plan for Pike to become a 100-year-old independent craft brewery. “We have seen first-hand Drew’s enthusiasm and devotion to Pike, its success, and its adherence to a philosophy of quality and sustainability. This includes a passion for giving back to the community. He is a superb business person, illustrated by his almost seven years as vice president of operations, and a key part of Pike’s plan for longevity entering year 30. Rose Ann and I are thrilled to have Drew help guide Pike into the future and are pleased to present him with the title to match his contributions.”

Charles and Rose Ann will continue to be active members of Pike’s management team as board chairs.

During his tenure as vice president of operations, Pike Brewing Co. has thrived, seeing consistent sales growth at The Pike Pub, a brewery production increase of 30 percent and the addition of Pike’s new oyster bar and Northwest-focused restaurant Tankard and Tun. Since its opening last year, Eater Seattle called Tankard and Tun Pike’s “glittering crown,” one of the most beautiful restaurants of the year, Sip Northwest proclaimed it, “one giant leap into 21st century craft beerdom,” Seattle Magazine named it the “new downtown go-to,” and Seattle Met promised the restaurant was, “as committed to good beer as ever.”

This year, Gillespie expanded Pike’s public transportation benefits to include all fulltime Pike team members, and in October, Pike Brewing celebrated its 29th anniversary and the release of newly designed cans for four year-round beers: Pike IPA, Pike Space Needle IPA, Pike Kilt Lifter and Pike Monk’s Uncle.

With an eye toward the future, Gillespie said: “What separates Pike is that we’re always looking forward. While we take pride in the past, Pike was founded by forward thinking, and it’s how we make decisions today. What new beer, what new project is around the corner — that’s what gets me excited about my job.”