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Loading ...February/March 2012 | The Variety Pack
Philly Beer Scene: Before joining the most arrogant brewery in the world, what were your ambitions in life?
LEE MARREN: Since I was young, I had always planned on opening my own bar/grill. I was born and raised in the business, so I guess it just seemed natural to me.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...December/January 2011-12 | The Variety Pack
Meet Cameron, Shangy’s Philly beer rep, who traded his daughter’s identity for cases of beer.
Philly Beer Scene: How did you get involved in the beer industry?
Cameron Saunders: Shangy’s is my first job in the industry and I have my friend Mike Burke to thank. He’s the owner of Quotations in Media, which is a fantastic beer bar. He’s a good friend of my boss and he introduced us and helped me get the job. It wasn’t an easy process by any means. I met my boss in October of one year and didn’t get hired until February of the next year. I kept on him though, and here I am.
PBS: Adam Ritter (owner of Sidecar & Kraftwork) said in a previous interview that he believes that [Shangy’s owner] Nima Hadian is the single most important person to the beer industry in Eastern PA. What’s your take on this and who else would you put on that list?
Cameron: I think that’s 100% true! While everyone else was trying to cram awful beer down people’s throats, Nima was acquiring the rights to sell some of the world’s best beers. He is responsible for bringing so many great brands into PA and making other wholesalers pay attention to what they were selling. Eddie Friedland is another guy who helped out significantly with bringing world class beer to PA. Read more…
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...October/November 2011 | The Variety Pack
Meet Jeff Lavin, the owner of the “Best of ‘Burbs” winning Hulmeville Inn, located just miles away from Exit 37 off I-95 North.
Philly Beer Scene: What is the beer you credit with getting you into craft beer?
Jeff Lavin: I think the first craft beer I had out was a Harpoon Winter Warmer around ’93 at Jake and Oliver’s House of Brews in Old City. My buddy Brad Martin, from Isaac Newton’s, took me down there and I was hooked. I think back then they had 40 beers on tap. First, he gave me a Sierra Bigfoot which, back then, I compared to chewing on a wreath.
PBS: How did you get into the industry?
Jeff: I was working at Langhorne Ski Shop and we would go out for a beer after work. The owner of the local bar we would go to offered me a job tending bar. Seeing as how I was already there most nights, it made sense. Read more…
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Meet Nick Johnson, Tröegs’ Regional Sales Manager and universal spreader of Tröegs love.
Philly Beer Scene: What were your plans in life before you got into the beer business?
Nick Johnson: I was either going to be a Sherpa mountain guide and carry out my life in the Himalayas helping people reach the summit of Mt. Everest or fulfill my lifelong dream of winning So You Think You Can Dance with my sick break dancing skills – but then I found beer.
PBS: How did you start working for Tröegs?
Nick: In college, I spent three years slinging kegs of Natty Ice into car trunks on a nightly basis at Gabler’s Beverage in beautiful Shippensburg, PA. After graduation, I fell into a job at local wholesaler selling beers like Coors, Rolling Rock and PBR. A friend in the beer industry told me Tröegs was going to hire a Philly rep, so I got a hold of Chris Trogner and went to the brewery to have a beer with him (no lie.). A few weeks later I was selling beer for an amazing craft brewery in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Delaware. Read more…
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Meet Matt Capone, owner of Capone’s Restaurant in Norristown, PA. Capone’s offers one of the largest and most diverse selection of craft beer and was named “Best Bottle Shop in the Suburbs” in our 2010 & 2011 Best of the Philly Beer Scene poll.
Philly Beer Scene: What were your ambitions prior to getting involved in the beer industry/bar business? And, how did you come about starting Capone’s?
Matt Capone: I grew up in it since I was a little boy. I was born in 1971, my dad started it in 1974, so I guess it was in my blood right out of the gate! My dad retired in 2000, but still does help a few hours here and there. Read more…
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Patrick pursued his passion for the beer industry to become Sierra Nevada’s area manager.
Philly Beer Scene: What were your ambitions prior to getting involved in the beer industry?
PATRICK MULLIN: I’m not sure I knew. I was convinced that I needed to work in an industry that I had some passion for. (Three years of electrical engineering school told me that wasn’t it.) I’m not sure my folks had beer in mind when they said, “Pursue something you love,” but somehow, this is where I ended up. It’s an exciting industry with an extraordinarily bright future, so I have no regrets. Read more…
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Mario Civera, owner of Civera’s Deli & Back Alley Beverage, didn’t let a fire stop him for offering his customers the best of both worlds.
Philly Beer Scene: How long have you been in the craft beer industry and what influenced you into this line of work?
MARIO CIVERA: I’ve been in the craft beer industry off and on for seventeen years. My exposure and eventual love of the beer industry started from working in the family business, Civera’s Deli, when I was a teenager. Initially, our store had seven refrigerated doors of beer and when we saw the craft beer movement taking shape, we re-designed the store and offered seventeen refrigerated doors of beer. Seven alone were dedicated to craft and imported beer. Read more…
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Meet Adam, owner of Sidecar Bar & Grille and Kraftwork, who sold his soul to the devil and pissed of a dead rock star’s wife.
Philly Beer Scene: Before the beer industry, what were your aspirations in life?
Adam Ritter: I decided to sell my soul to the devil and I figured that the quickest way to do that was to buy a bar and run a bar and I think that I can check that off now. I didn’t know what I wanted to do growing up. I originally went to school to be a geologist. I wanted to study plate tectonics and rocks and stuff, but couldn’t find many interesting rocks in North Philadelphia. Eventually, I got a sales job selling forklifts and warehouse designs and went to culinary school at night.
Read more…
(1 votes, average: 1.00 out of 5) Loading ...October/November 2010 | The Variety Pack
Meet Mark, area beer rep for Great Lakes Brewing Company.
Philly Beer Scene: Before the beer industry, what were your aspirations in life?
Mark Weinmann: I went to Boston College for English but I always expected to end up in the construction business like my father. I was always really fascinated with starting a business and after a trip to Germany, I changed my major to business.
(No Ratings Yet) Loading ...August/September 2010 | The Variety Pack
Meet Rob McElhenney & Kaitlin Olson, partner owners of Mac’s Tavern on Market Street in Old City.
This duo may sound familiar for their starring roles on FX’s It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, of which Rob is also the creator. Although the show returns with a new season in September, we’re here to talk about their new bar.
Philly Beer Scene: When you were a resident of Philadelphia, what bars were you hanging out in?
ROB MCELHENNEY: Well, I moved to New York when I was 18, so I’m sure the bars I was hanging out at wouldn’t appreciate the publicity.
KAITLIN OLSON: I’m from Oregon, but I love how many local bars there are. It’s not like that in L.A. where we’re from. Ladder 15 is one of my favorites though.
