1. Bill Madden, Mad Fox Brewing Company, Falls Church, VA
444 West Broad Street Suite I, Falls Church, Virginia 2204
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Mad Fox Brewing Company
One of the industry’s most-respected brewers, Bill Madden (second from right) serves as the chief executive officer and executive brewer at Mad Fox Brewing Company. He guides the brewing team consisting of head brewer Charlie Buettner (second from left) and brewers Brian Murphy (far right) and Brad Hulewicz (far left). Bill learned the science of brewing at the University of California-Davis where he graduated from the Master Brewers Program in 1995. Since then, he has been honing his craft and has been responsible for opening and operating seven brewpub locations in the region while at Capitol City Brewing Company, Founders Restaurant and Brewing Company, and Vintage 50 Restaurant and Brew Lounge. Bill’s locally brewed and served beers have received national acclaim through the Brewers Associations’ Great American Beer Festival (GABF) and the Chicago Real Ale Festival. His achievements are especially notable because they span from the biggest, most robust and full-flavored beer styles to also include the lightest and subtlest beer styles, an unusual accomplishment that speaks to his finesse as a brewer.
2. Trae Cairns, Midnight Brewery, Rockville, VA
2410 Granite Ridge Road, Rockville, Virginia 23146
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Midnight Brewery
Midnight Brewery focuses on providing local beer enthusiasts with a variety of high quality, approachable beers. Owner Trae Cairns, a former IT professional, honed his brewing skills in the late hours after working his full-time job. Those late night date nights with barley, hops, and water instilled in him a brewing passion that eventually led to the establishment of Midnight Brewery in 2011. The high demand for Midnight Brewery’s beers quickly lead Trae out of IT and into the brewing industry full-time, where he continues to entice the locals with his malty offerings.
3. Mike Kraft, Turtle Anarchy Brewing Company, Franklin, TN
216 Noah Drive, Ste. 140, Franklin, Tennessee 37064
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Turtle Anarchy Facebook
Mike (2nd from right) has a long and decorated career in brewing. He started out as a home brewer but decided to make his passion official and attended the Siebel Institute of Technology’s Master Brewer program. Mike has won many medals at the Great American Beer Festival® and World Beer Cup® over his twelve-year brewing career. He is the mastermind behind all of the Turtle Anarchy beers. It is his ability to be innovative with brewing ingredients and processes that pioneers the creative aspect of the beers and makes them uniquely Turtle Anarchy. Mike spends long hours in the brewery but can also be met in the taproom.
4. Ernie Igot, Peabody Heights Brewery, Baltimore, MD
401 E. 30th Street, Baltimore, Maryland 21218
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Peabody Heights Brewery
Working with San Miguel Brewery in the Philippines for 21 years gave Ernie the necessary technical skills to be proficient in brewing. After graduating from the University of the Philippines with a degree in chemical engineering in 1975, he worked with San Miguel as a brewing supervisor. In 1984, he topped the company’s brewing course and placed 3rd at the Versuchs-und-Lehranstalt fur Brauerei (VLB) course in Berlin, Germany in 1986 . In 1987, he was promoted to Assistant Brewmaster. He was again promoted to Brewmaster and Production Manager in 1990. In 1994, he was made Manager, Technical Services of the Brewing Technical Directorate and oversaw the day-to-day operations of 11 breweries and 2 brewpubs in the Philippines, China, Indonesia and Vietnam. He and his family moved to the US in 1997. He worked with a local brewer for 12 years – the last 6 years as head brewer. In June, 2012, he started working with Peabody Heights Brewery in Baltimore and assisted in the installation of brewery’s equipment.
5. Josh Stamps, Isley Brewing Company, Richmond, VA
1715 Summit Avenue, Richmond, VA 23230
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Isley Brewing CompanyFacebook
Raised in Richmond, Virginia, Josh Stamps first developed his interest in craft beer while working in a small batch brewery in Midlothian. He gained experience and valuable knowledge from the likes of Madison Hill and Dave McCracken, moving up the echelon of responsibility before eventually taking over brewhouse operations. Around this time, Josh utilized his new found knowledge and passion to begin homebrewing with friends. In his spare time, Josh enjoys fine woodworking, playing guitar, and spending time with his Special Needs dog, Mr. Waylon Jennings.
6. Derrick Morse, Cool Springs Brewery, Franklin, TN
600A Frazier Drive, Ste 135, Franklin, Tennessee 37067
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Cool Springs Brewery
Derrick Morse, brewmaster at Cool Springs Brewery, is very proud and excited to be a part of this historic project. His brewing philosophy is to make the very finest ales and lagers possible by using traditional brewing techniques and only the freshest ingredients available. He takes pride in what he does and hopes when you try the beers you will understand why.
7. Taylor Smack, Blue Mountain Brewery, Afton, VA
9519 Critzers Shop Road, Afton, VA 22920
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Photo: Blue Mountain Brewery
Taylor Smack (center) has been brewing beer professionally since early 2000 after receiving the Certificate of Brewing Technology from Chicago’s Siebel Institute, the country’s oldest school for the craft of brewing. He was the head brewer of both Goose Island brewpubs in Chicago and spent six years as the brewer for Charlottesville, Virginia’s South Street Brewery before opening Blue Mountain in 2007.
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