What’s your current position at your brewery, and how did you get started in the craft brewing industry?
Currently I am moving from the production side of the brewery (Lucky Hare Brewing in Hector, N.Y.) to handling sales and marketing. As a co-founder and owner, you wear many hats—brewing, bartending, sales, marketing, delivering, and everything else in between.

What’s new at Lucky Hare?
We just opened a second taproom in Ithaca, N.Y. and a brand new production facility. Our original brewery was a 3 bbl direct fire system in a 100-year-old barn and we are upgrading to a 15 bbl brewhouse in a 5,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility.

What’s the best part of being a part of the craft brewing community?
It’s like one gigantic happy family. Everyone supports one another, shares knowledge, and helps each other out when they’re in a bind. Not sure if there is any other community like it.

Name a favorite food and beer pairing.
Wings! Where I live in Watkins Glen, N.Y. we have two killer wing places that make a delicious house-made blue cheese. The fatty, salty, crunchy, and spicy hot wings pair perfectly with our crisp and refreshing American light lager. A match made in pairing heaven.

What’s your biggest accomplishment unrelated to your job?
Becoming a father and starting a family. It has been such a special experience. I can’t think of any other way to start and end my day than with my family. Incredible.

What’s your favorite beer from another brewery?
Westbrook’s Mexican Cake is always a go-to whenever I can find some here in Upstate New York. It was an inspirational beer for me. I wish I had one now!

What do you like to do in your time away from the brewery?
CrossFit. Exercise is a great way to clear my mind and focus just on what is in front of me. Exercise acts like a reset button and honestly, balances all the beer I drink, or at least I hope it does.

What’s the most memorable travel destination at which you’ve had a chance to sample the local beer?
San Diego was an unforgettable beer drinking experience. There were so many incredible breweries and I was in IPA heaven for five straight days. It is a must for any craft beer lover. Book a flight, find a DD, and just enjoy what San Diego is doing.