The biggest interview of my life, and I nearly blew it. I’m still anonymous enough in this industry that if Natalie Cilurzo, co-owner of one of the most famous craft breweries on the planet, grants me time for an interview, well, that’s like interviewing the President for your podcast. Hyperbole? Maybe a little. But still, people from around the world line up for hours … [Read more...] about Masters of the Beerverse: Natalie Cilurzo
Brews
Masters of The Beerverse: Dan Gordon
As a teenager, Dan Gordon took a trip to Germany with his family. He could legally drink there and immediately took to German beer culture. And boy, did it stick. So much so, in fact, that after graduating from UC Berkeley in 1982, he went back to Germany for Grad school, enrolling in the brewing engineering program at the Technical Institute of Munich. He graduated in … [Read more...] about Masters of The Beerverse: Dan Gordon
Lagunitas Relationship Status — It’s Complicated
I’m a Craft Beer Enthusiast (CBE). That means indie (ugh, hate that word) all the way. Ownership matters! Down with Big Beer! “Dude, Heineken just bought 50% of Lagunitas!” Okay. Um, I’m fine with that. Just a partnership, right? Trying to open up some distribution channels, make some inroads into some new markets. That’s fine. They’re long since past the days … [Read more...] about Lagunitas Relationship Status — It’s Complicated
Masters of The Beerverse: Don Barkley
I’m not one for hyperbole, but I’m a bit giddy these days because I just got to interview a craft brewing legend. Okay, he might think that a bit grandiose. How about pioneer? Trailblazer? Sherpa? Whatever, doesn’t matter. Don Barkley has been in the craft brewing game since before there was one, when he convinced Jack McAuliffe in the late 1970s he could use some help … [Read more...] about Masters of The Beerverse: Don Barkley
Masters of The Beerverse: Dave McLean
With the possible exception of Anchor Brewing, there probably isn’t a brewery more iconic to San Francisco than Magnolia. To wit: Dave McLean, the founder, got indoctrinated into the craft beer scene in the parking lots at Grateful Dead shows in the Boston area the late ’80s/early ‘90s, where many of the Dead’s followers brought brews with them from the West Coast … [Read more...] about Masters of The Beerverse: Dave McLean