Mission Brewery promotes John Egan, grows 88 percent, welcomes AHA members and lots more

For starters, Mission Brewery grew beer production in 2013 nearly 90 percent to 8,900 barrels (bbls). Secondly, to help manage that growth, it promoted Mission Head Brewer John Egan to a new position of operations manager and head brewer. But there is lots more news, so let’s go…..

John Egan gets promotion
As mentioned, Mission Brewery’s head brewer John Egan has been promoted to a new role of operations manager and head brewer. In addition to running the brewhouse and overseeing all brewing and packaging, Egan will now manage all Mission employees and managers and oversee all operations at Mission.

A 12-year beer industry veteran, Egan joined Mission in 2010 after a nine-year stint at the mighty Stone Brewing Co., where he served as lead brewer. He has a wealth of experience managing beer production, people and brewery growth.

“John has an outstanding track record of success,” said Mission Brewery founder Dan Selis. “He understands the challenges that come with our industry. He’s also demonstrated strong leadership skills and professionalism throughout his career. That makes him immensely qualified for this new role, and we’re honored to have him lead Mission in this new position.”

This month Egan is also the focus of the revered “A Toast To…” feature on the back page of the new issue of The New Brewer. The magazine is the industry publication of the Brewers Association, the Boulder, Colo., based trade group for America’s micro and craft brewers.

Mission grows up
Mission Brewery’s 2013 beer production topped out at 8,900 bbls of delicious Mission beer. That’s an 88 percent increase over the 4,743 bbls crafted in 2012. Mission beers are currently sold in California, Colorado, Nevada, Arizona, Indian, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia and Kentucky.

Homebrewers overtake Mission
Mission’s recent hosting of the American Homebrewers Association membership rally was a blast. Over 200 San Diego homebrewers and beer nuts joined the company for private tours, special beers, brewer Q&A sessions and beer-powered fun.

Attendees also participated in the hopping of a triple IPA the company brewed during the rally. That beer — 200 Human IIIPA — was built with hop additions (including Warrior, Cascade, Centennial, Zythos and Simcoe hops) pitched by rally goers. The result is a bodacious, ultra-hoppy beer of 11.5 percent ABV, 100 plus IBUs and 200 plus HHUs (homebrewer hopping units). Mission tapped it at its tasting room on Feb. 19.

Rally attendee Tom Kelly won the grand raffle prize of the event; he won the right to brew a beer of his design with the Mission brewing team. They’ll brew the beer in March.

Homebrewers overtake San Diego in 2015
At the rally, AHA director Gary Glass was on hand to mingle with homebrewers and make a big announcement: The 2015 American Homebrewers Conference will take place in San Diego at the Town and Country Resort and Conference Center.

Mission cannons roll east
Mission’s quart cannons are rolling into Ohio and Florida and a few other Mission states. The company noted it was excited to be putting cannons in the hands of beer lovers across the nation, and happy to be finding more fans of the supreme quarts.

“We’re now planning a third 32-ounce cannon for release later this year,” the company noted.