The Brewers Association (BA) has announced that Dick Cantwell, formerly of Elysian Brewing Company, will fill the newly created position of quality ambassador. Cantwell will work to promote the vision of the BA quality subcommittee—to develop a membership that consistently produces beer of high quality.
Cantwell said, “I am delighted to be given this opportunity to connect with friends old and new around the country, helping to instill the culture of quality in beer and in business as we all strive to stay passionate and committed to this movement we’ve all created.”
Cantwell has a long history of involvement in craft brewing. He is one of the Northwest’s elder brewing statesmen, having begun his career in Seattle in 1990. In 1996 he co-founded Elysian Brewing Company, where he served as head brewer until 2015. Elysian was named large Brewpub of the Year three times at the Great American Beer Festival (1999, 2003 and 2004). In 2004 Cantwell received the Brewers Association’s Russell Schehrer Award for innovation and excellence in brewing. He has written for various beer magazines, including The New Brewer, Beer Advocate and American Brewer, and his book publishing credits include Barley Wine (with Fal Allen) and The Brewers Association Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery. He is currently at work on a wood and beer book with New Belgium Brewing’s Peter Bouckaert.
As quality ambassador, Cantwell will advocate the BA quality subcommittee’s resources and messaging addressing beer quality. A particular focus will be with communicating with state brewing guilds. Guild leaders who are interested in scheduling Cantwell for a presentation are encouraged to contact BA State Guilds Manager Acacia Coast.
The BA technical committee formed the quality subcommittee in the fall of 2014 to conceptualize and facilitate the continual pursuit of beer quality for craft brewers. The technical committee selected a diverse group of brewing professionals to take on the task of supporting and advocating for quality. The purpose of the group is to provide a framework for quality to craft brewers and to provide guidance to achieve the vision of a membership that consistently produces beer of high quality.
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