Behind every beer brand you drink is an impressive team of beer professionals — brewers, barkeeps, bussers, canners, sales reps, CEOs, COOs, lab techs, interns and everyone from marketing and HR teams to warehouse and restaurant workers. “Beer professional” encapsulates a wide variety of jobs and skill sets, and breweries are constantly making moves to secure great employees and industry leaders. Oftentimes, it’s not even a beer pro, but a food or technology wiz that’s needed. Craft breweries and their suppliers and trade associations have many facets and require specialized employees. Here are a few of the big personnel headlines from the craft brewing industry in the last month plus. Send your beer pro news to [email protected].
Kat Hess named head brewer named at Colorado’s Phantom Canyon
Phantom Canyon Brewing Co., the original brewpub in Colorado Springs, recently announced the appointment of Kat Hess as head brewer. With a rich background in craft brewing and a dedication to excellence, Hess is set to lead Phantom Canyon Brewing into an exciting new era of brewing innovation.
Hess brings a wealth of experience to her role as head brewer at Phantom Canyon Brewing. With a distinguished career overseeing brewing operations at celebrated craft breweries across Colorado, Hess is poised to elevate the brewery’s offerings and continue its tradition of excellence. Her commitment to crafting exceptional brews is matched by her dedication to providing guests with unforgettable experiences.
In 2023, Hess received her World Brewing Academy Diploma from the esteemed Siebel Institute of Technology/Doemens Academy, solidifying her position as a leader in the craft brewing industry. Her passion for brewing shines through in every pint and her expertise will undoubtedly shape the future of Phantom Canyon’s beer offerings.
“I am honored to join the team at Phantom Canyon Brewing Company,” said Hess. “Phantom Canyon has a rich history and a commitment to quality that is truly inspiring. I look forward to working with our talented team to craft exceptional beers that celebrate the spirit of Colorado Springs.”
As head brewer, Hess will oversee all aspects of brewing operations, create recipes for sought- after brews and lead the Phantom Canyon team in delivering exceptional beer straight from the barrels to guests’ hands. Phantom Canyon Brewing invites beer enthusiasts and food lovers alike to experience the passion and craftsmanship that define its offerings.
“We are delighted to introduce Kat as the newest addition to the Phantom Canyon Brewing Company family,” said Phantom Canyon General Manager Mario Moser. “Her wealth of experience and dedication to crafting exceptional brews align seamlessly with our commitment to providing Colorado Springs with outstanding beer and hospitality. With Kat at the helm, we look forward to exploring new horizons in craft brewing and creating memorable experiences for our guests.”
For more information about Phantom Canyon Brewing Company and its offerings, please visit www.phantomcanyon.com.
Breeze Galindo named director of operations for The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling
The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling (The MJF) has announced that it has made its first staff hire since its founding in 2020, appointing Breeze Galindo as director of operations.
Galindo previously served as lead brewer at Other Half Brewing, facilitating the team and its day to day brewing operations at its original Centre Street location in Brooklyn. She has also been a member of The MJF Board of Directors since its founding, a role she will continue as she leads operations for the nonprofit foundation. In her capacity as director of operations, Galindo will help to lead and manage The MJF’s fundraising, partnerships, scholarship recipient relations, mentorship program, and industry visibility.
The mission of the MJF is to advance technical education and facilitate career opportunities for people of color within the brewing and distilling industries in the United States. The foundation accomplishes these goals in two ways: funding scholarship awards to accredited brewing and distilling technical courses, and personalized mentorship of grantees by industry professionals.
“I’m excited to offer even more of my time and talents to The MJF as director of operations,” stated Galindo. “As a woman of color who got her foot in the door and advanced in the industry, I feel like it’s my responsibility to help others like me do the same. This role will help the foundation make even more impact through our scholarship and mentorship opportunities, and I’m looking forward to playing a bigger role in those activities.”
Prior to Galindo’s appointment, The MJF’s day to day operations, as well as its strategic operations, were handled by founder and chair, Garrett Oliver. With Galindo in her new capacity, Oliver will be able to focus more of his time on strategic growth of the foundation.
“Breeze has been a phenomenal Board member for The MJF over the past few years,” commented Oliver. “She’s been instrumental in getting our mentorship program off the ground and is absolutely the right person to add as our first staff member. I’m looking forward to working closer with her and seeing the value she brings to The MJF.”
The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling (The MJF), formed in 2020, is a grant-making organization that funds technical education scholarship awards to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color within the brewing and distilling trades. To learn more about The MJF, visit www.themjf.org.
The Michael James Jackson Foundation also announces new scholarship recipients
The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling (The MJF) also recently announced the latest winners of its scholarship awards, as well as its third annual matching funding challenge. Twice a year, The MJF awards full-ride technical education scholarships to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color within the brewing and distilling industries, helping these award winners further their professional education and progress deeper and higher within these industries. As of today, though more than 40% of Americans come from non-European backgrounds, people of color make up only a few percent of brewers and distillers. Technical education is one key to a more diverse industry.
The latest MJF cohort of scholarship award winners are Ari Ballard, Harold Dale, Jr., Yvette De Luna, Carlos Fernandez, Erin Lee, Greg Mendez, Jacob Meza, and Tyler Sadler.
These scholarships would not be possible without the generosity of The MJF’s funding partners and their shared mission to diversify the beer and spirits ecosystems. For the past three years, The MJF, with promotional support from ProBrewer through its large base of industry members and subscribers, has run a matching funding challenge in the month leading up to the annual Craft Brewers Conference.
Beginning today, The MJF will launch its 2024 matching challenge, with Pinhook Bourbon, Athletic Brewing Company, and Lallemand partnering to match the first $100,000 in donations made through April 23rd, the start of the Craft Brewer Conference in Las Vegas. This matching challenge gives The MJF the opportunity to raise more than $200,000 to fund its technical education scholarships for its award recipients.
Both individual people and organizations, such as breweries, distilleries, and allied trade partners can contribute to the matching challenge. Donations can be made by visiting https://givebutter.com/MJF2024.
Founded in 2020 by Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewing Company, and named after the legendary beer and whiskey author Michael James Jackson, The MJF has awarded technical education scholarships to 44 recipients over the past four years.
“It’s incredible to look back on four years and know that with the help of like-minded organizations and individuals, we’ve been able to provide more than 40 scholarship opportunities for BIPOC individuals to further their careers in brewing and distilling,” said Garrett Oliver, founder of The MJF. “We certainly couldn’t do it without the help of our funding partners, though. To help contextualize these technical education programs, a single course can cost up to $27,000. It’s an investment into the future of these people, not only to receive the best brewing and distilling education in the world, but to eventually become leaders in their own rights.”
Learn more about the latest recipients of The MJF’s technical education awards:
Ari Ballard — Ballard’s journey from being a New Orleans native to an aspiring spirits producer showcases her dedication to her community. Her experience with Turning Tables, a non-profit organization that advocates for equity in the hospitality industry by providing mentorship and educational tools for the black and brown communities of New Orleans, and Preservation Hall, a historic music venue in the French Quarter, highlight her skills in event coordination and her commitment to local culture. Now, aiming to become a licensed distiller, Ballard’s poised to make a significant impact in the spirits industry while staying true to her roots.
Harold Dale Jr. — A first-generation African/Korean American born in Seoul, Dale has more than 10 years of experience within the New Orleans alcohol and hospitality industry. Raised within a multicultural and military background, the importance of diversity and honoring his cultures, amongst others, was a priority in his house. Dale recognizes the importance of representation in every aspect of life and strives to be a role model for his son, as his parents were to him.
Always an advocate for a tasty beverage, his interest in brewing started with a 2020 collaboration with a local brewery and his running crew for the release of a beer tied to the Black Is Beautiful project. From there, Dale started his journey in craft beer, working on the packaging and distribution side of a local New Orleans brewery. In 2023, when offered a position as assistant brewer at Brewery St. X in New Orleans, he jumped at the opportunity to get on the brewing side. Within a year of working at Brewery St. X, Dale accelerated his knowledge and skills to the point where he is now responsible for all cellar work and is the in-house brewer.
Before brewing, Dale lived a nomadic lifestyle, traveling the world, teaching, and soaking up as much culture as possible. While living abroad in his birth country of South Korea, he fell in love with a local rice beverage called makgeolli. In the future, Dale looks forward to sharing his culture and craft by owning and operating his own brewery that also specializes in makgeolli.
Yvette De Luna — Yvette De Luna is a first-generation Mexican American born in Glendale, California, raised in Echo Park, Los Angeles, with roots in San Luis Potosi, Mexico.
De Luna started her journey in the craft beer industry at Arts District Brewing Co. as a barback. She attended and volunteered at beer festivals, showing her commitment and interest in beer. After participating in a brew day, De Luna’s passion for beer grew. Even without having a formal education in beer, within months she worked her way up to the bartender, followed by a cellar person, and eventually became the assistant brewer. Finally, having a full-time job at Arts District Brewing Co., she joined Pink Boots Society, a non-profit organization that supports women and non-binary individuals in the fermented beverage industry.
During the pandemic, De Luna applied at Highland Park Brewery as a barback and again worked her way up to become a brewer. De Luna is now a lead brewer at both Highland Park Brewery facilities. In addition to brewing, she helps develop standard operating procedures, improve processes, and train and mentor new employees and interns. She aims to get a formal education to learn more technical brewing, gain more leadership techniques, learn about brewery safety, and sharpen her vocabulary. The next step in her career is to become a mentor to individuals who are new to the industry. Her long-term goal is to become a head brewer. She often helps inspire others in the industry by being on panels and networking with the Pink Boots Society.
Carlos Fernandez — Carlos Fernandez’s craft beer journey started during his undergrad years when he worked at a pizza parlor that carried 16 beer taps, ranging from the giants of beer to the historical craft breweries of California and the microbreweries of the area. It was at this place that Fernandez discovered what beer could be. Immediately, he was captivated by the world of hospitality and food and beverage, with craft beer at the forefront. Fernandez homebrewed his first beer around his discovery and learned as much about the industry as possible during his time out of class and work.
Years later, soon after Covid restrictions were lifted, Fernandez landed his first brewery job. He was thrilled to finally apply all his skills, knowledge, and enthusiasm to this business, hoping to be a professional brewer someday. A few years later, that dream is alive and well, and with the help of the MJF Scholarship Program. Fernandez is excited to see where this dream takes him next.
Erin Lee — Born and raised in Toronto, Canada, to Korean immigrants, Erin Lee has always been taste-curious and a maker. Lee moved to New York City in 2006, where she worked as a fashion designer for more than a decade. Years later, while searching for a new passion to sink her teeth into, Lee fell in love with tea during a trip to Asia. She became a certified Tea Sommelier with the Tea and Herbal Association of Canada. Along the way, Lee discovered how much she enjoyed the tasting process and flavor. The love of sensory soon led her to whiskey. Lee sought out every whiskey tasting she could from brands near and far, listening to whiskey podcasts, reading books about whiskey, and wondering if she could find a career in the spirits industry.
Lee was selected to become part of the inaugural class of the STEPUP Internship in 2022, where she received spirits training around the country for one year at Westward Whiskey, Eight Oaks Farm Distillery, Stitzel-Weller Distillery, Cascade Hollow Distilling, Bulleit Distilling Co. and RNDC. In 2023, after completing her training, she relocated to Chicago, Illinois, to join the team at FEW Spirits as a Distiller. Bringing it all full circle, a recent project at FEW has allowed her to combine her passion for tea and whiskey on a special project.
Through the opportunity afforded through this scholarship, Lee is excited to gain the technical knowledge and confidence she needs to continue to grow and pursue her dream of becoming a master blender. So many people have helped open doors for Lee on this journey, and she hopes to use her visibility and experiences to inspire and support other BIPOC folks in joining the industry.
Greg Mendez — A first-generation Mexican-American with roots in Tampico, Mexico, Greg Mendez was born in Chicago and raised in the Mississippi Delta. He currently works as a shift brewer at Brewery X in Anaheim. While living in Mississippi, Mendez’s area didn’t always have a great selection of fresh and exciting beers. He and his friends would drive to Alabama or Louisiana for a better beer selection. Mendez’s beer adventures sparked his interest in brewing, where he eventually joined a local homebrew club. He quickly went from being a patron of local beer fests to working these festivals and later even pouring beer he brewed himself.
Mendez officially joined the craft beer industry in 2015 and has worked hard to learn as much as he can from his jobs. Always looking for a new challenge, he moved to California in 2020 to test himself against others in the industry and is thrilled with his decision to make the big move. Mendez states that it has been a journey to learn in this industry, especially being autistic and dyslexic, which requires him to approach mastering his role a bit differently. He is excited about getting training and furthering his career through the MJF’s opportunity.
Jacob Meza — Jacob Meza was born and raised in Chicago to immigrant parents from Mexico City. His passion for craft beer started a decade before he landed his first job in the beer industry. Meza first started attending small festivals, which piqued his interest in craft beer. Soon after that, Meza was home brewing one-gallon batches in his kitchen. After mastering the art of homebrewing, Meza started investing in more equipment to make even larger batches of beer.
Meza joined the brewing industry in 2018 as a delivery driver at Lake Effect Brewing. Eventually, he entered the brewery and worked as an assistant brewer at District Brew Yards. Meza’s goal is to eventually have a family-owned brewery that is inclusive to people of all backgrounds.
Tyler Sadler — Tyler Sadler was born and raised in southern California, where she currently works as a full-time brewer at Shadow Grove Brewing in San Fernando, California. Sadler’s beer journey started in 2017 when she discovered much more flavorful and exciting beer than anything sold at a macro level. She eventually started homebrewing and joined the Social Cerveceros homebrew club in 2019, where she met other BIPOC individuals who were equally as passionate about beer as herself.
Over the next couple of years, Sadler would rack up a handful of homebrew competition medals, work in a leadership position in a homebrew supply store, start a fun beer and brewing podcast with her friend, as well as develop recipes for a new beer brand focused on making culturally influenced craft beer.
In the spring of 2022, she applied to work as a beertender at Shadow Grove Brewing. After six months of serving beers, she was offered a job on the brew team, where she now works full time overseeing and managing all day-to-day brewing operations at Shadow Grove. The art, science, and overall challenges of brewing great beer motivate Sadler every single day.
Beer Institute honors 12 beer industry employees with inaugural Best in Brew Award
The Beer Institute, the oldest national trade association representing the beer industry, recently recognized 12 beer industry employees with its inaugural Best in Brew Award, which honors exceptional employees from Beer Institute member companies, at an award gala in Washington, D.C. This accolade celebrates and salutes beer industry workers who consistently go above and beyond, demonstrating outstanding dedication and contributions to their respective companies and the beer industry.
Nearly 2.4 million Americans owe their livelihood to the beer industry, and the Best in Brew Award celebrates extraordinary individuals whose unwavering commitment and passion fuel the success of a vibrant beer industry,” said Brian Crawford, president and CEO of the Beer Institute. “These employees have consistently set the highest example at their respective companies, and their dedication to the art of brewing and selling beer exemplifies what makes beer America’s favorite beverage alcohol.
The Beer Institute honored the following industry employees with a Best in Brew Award:
- Ksenia Adams, MicroStar Logistics, Denver, CO
- Natalie Burbidge, Constellation Brands, Chicago, IL
- Justin Burden, Pabst Brewing Company, San Antonio, TX
- John Doolan, HEINEKEN USA, White Plains, NY
- John Geist (retired), Boston Beer Company, Boston, MA
- Brice Hiatt, John I. Hass, Inc., Yakima, WA
- Robert Kunkle, O-I Glass/Rocky Mountain Bottle Company, Wheat Ridge, CO
- Missy Raver, Yakima Chief Hops, Yakima, WA
- Scott Smith, Anheuser-Busch, St. Louis, MO
- Dan Voce, FX Matt Brewing Company, Utica, NY
- Jamie Westfahl, Molson Coors, Milwaukee, WI
- Bill Young, Beer Institute, Washington, DC
This is the first year the Beer Institute has recognized exceptional beer industry employees with the Best in Brew Award. According to Beer Serves America, the Beer Institute and the National Beer Wholesalers Association’s joint economic study, nearly 2.4 million Americans work in the beer industry, and beer contributes more than $409 billion in economic output, equivalent to 1.6% of the national GDP. The beer industry also pays more than $63 billion in taxes annually and more than $132 billion in wages and benefits to employees.
Incline Cider Co. adds key leadership roles, director of sales and key account manager
Incline Cider Co. recently celebrated 8 years of growth in the hard cider industry with two key new hires. Josh Richier as Director of Sales and Lindsey Meuser as PNW Key Account Manager.
Josh Richier – Director of Sales has over 11 years of experience in beverage sales. Josh has worked with Partake Brewing, Saint Archer Brewing, among others, growing brands and leading expansion efforts. His role as Director of Sales highlights his experience in successfully expanding brand sales and footprints. “Josh’s experience will allow us to continue our growth and expansion efforts into new markets, building on our momentum from 2023, building out our overall sales operations” said Jordan Zehner, Co-Founder and CEO of Incline Cider Company.
Lindsey Meuser – Key Account Manager, has over 10 years of experience in brand management. Lindsey started her career in marketing at Delicato Family Vineyards and spent the last 7 years at Tillamook County Creamery Association, fostering a well-rounded knowledge of Brand Management, Consumer Insights, and Sales strategy. Her role as Key Account Manager at Incline Cider Company leverages her experience in product development, brand positioning, consumer insights to drive customer sell-in, and trade promotions. “Lindsey’s consumer insights and marketing expertise will elevate our key account support. Having one of our daughter’s join Incline Cider is a very proud moment,” said Chris, Co-Founder and CSO of Incline Cider Company.
We are very pleased to have Josh and Lindsey join our cider family. This will accelerate Incline Ciders growth in our current 10 state footprint and beyond. In the past 8 years Incline Cider has become the #3 volume cider brand in the Pacific Northwest, as a small family team, with tremendous support from our partners Lesley Zehner, Operations and Finance Manager, and Teresa Zehner, DTC Manager to make it all possible.
Incline Cider Company is family owned and based in Auburn, Washington. Founded in 2015 by father-son team Chris and Jordan Zehner. The company offers a diverse collection of innovative, yet approachable ciders sourced from local fresh-pressed Washington apples. Visit Incline Cider House at 2115 South C Street in Tacoma.
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.