Meet Brian Nolan, owner of Friendship Brewing Company in Wentzville, Missouri. A member of the Guild's board of directors, he has been in the craft beer business for 6 years. How did you get started in the craft beer industry? Like many, homebrewing, about three decades ago. What gets you out of bed each day? The joy of interacting with our people, both our family of employees and our family of patrons. What was your first ever craft beer? New Belgium's Fat Tire, but Sun King - Sun Light Cream Ale was my game changer. What does your job entail at the brewery? Herding of cats... as an owner I guess I’d say overseeing of brand production, promotion, and customer service. What do you do with your free time? What’s free time? When possible, travel. With brewery destinations. If you could work on a collaboration beer with any other craft brewery, who would it be? Any Belgian Trappist brewery, at their place of course. What is your favorite thing about the craft beer industry? Good people drinking good beer. What's the best beer you've ever had? A Westy 12 about 20 years ago, my first whale. What's one fun fact about you? I collect historical brewery advertising, perhaps too much... Why did you join the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild? To be part of a collective group of independent Missouri breweries and promote and protect our industry and brands in the local/state marketplace. Meet Jon Shine, co-owner of Urban Chestnut Brewing Company in St. Louis, Missouri. Jon serves on the Guild's board of directors. How did you get started in the craft beer industry? I worked for Anheuser-Busch for 10 years. After the InBev buyout, I saw a strategy to dismantle, control, and turn the American beer industry into a monopoly. I decided I wanted to be part of an organic, grassroots effort that would keep the American beer industry independent. I turned in my resignation and invested in Urban Chestnut Brewing Company, which was in its planning stages, on the same day. What gets you out of bed each day? Commitment to Family and fulfilling promises. What was your first ever craft beer? New Belgium's Fat Tire What does your job entail at the brewery? Many Hats. Outside Market Sales (Driving the Box Truck) What do you do with your free time? I sell UCBC. If you could work on a collaboration beer with any other craft brewery, who would it be? Weihenstephaner What is your favorite thing about the craft beer industry? The endless creativity and the freedom to explore any thought or idea and make it become a reality. What's the best beer you've ever had? I can't pin it down to one answer. What's one fun fact about you? I love St. Louis. I'm going to write a TV Show that will shine a light on how great this city is, despite it's struggles and challenges. Why did you join the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild? Feel that it's important that individual craft breweries have a platform to communicate and update one another on potential industry challenges, so they can develop solutions that benefit the group as a whole. Meet Joleen Durham, co-owner and co-founder of Piney River Brewing Company in "Brewcyrus," Missouri. Joleen is also serving as the Guild president this year and has been in the craft beer business for 9 years. How did you get started in the craft beer industry? My husband, Brian, and I wanted to make craft beer that was made in the Ozarks and celebrates the Ozarks. What gets you out of bed each day? First, I have a big ol' bank bill to pay off by making and selling beer because I'm a doer, not just a dreamer. What was your first-ever craft beer? Boulevard Unfiltered Wheat What do you do with your free time? In my "free" time my family and I farm on 160 acres with 40 head of beef cattle. My personal pursuits are perennial flower gardening and cooking, and I also and fishing and kayaking with my family. Currently, I'm the head chauffeur in our family for my 14-year old son, Andy, and that seems like a full-time job. If you could work on a collaboration beer with any other craft brewery, who would it be? My friends at Mike Hess Brewing in San Diego (it will happen some day). What is your favorite thing about the craft beer industry? Meeting and getting to know amazing, fun, and interesting people that have become dear friends. What's the best beer you've ever had? The Old Tom Porter we were pouring on the GABF floor after it won Gold. What's one fun fact about you? I was a Missouri Master Gardener before I ever brewed a beer! Why did you join the Missouri Craft Brewers Guild? The Missouri Craft Brewers Guild is a collective voice for craft beer in our state, and it's important that we have an organization that represents all of us. |