This is a part of a continuing series of Q&As with members of the brewing community from across the U.S.
Brewer Magazine will share business and personal insights from Brewmasters, Head Brewers, Brewing Managers, Sales Directors, QCQA Managers and others each weekend to help you get to know each other better in the industry and learn more to better develop your own brand.
Doug Clark, Head Brewer, Tampa Bay Brewing at Ybor City — Tampa, Florida
BREWER: How do you feel your job has had to adapt in the beer market compared to a few years ago?
CLARK: To stop being trendy and become trend system.
BREWER: Who is your mentor in the industry and why? What have you learned from them?
CLARK: I have many: The owners of Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond, Virginia for providing me my start; the brewers from Greenpoint Beerworks for teaching me teamwork; Siebel and the World Beer Academy in Munich for the education; Kim Jordan and the crew at New Belgium as well as Ken Grossman and the crew at Sierra Nevada for their environmental stewardship; and Dave Doble for the opportunity of growth and John Rankin for the cultivation of my growth…and for having red hair.
BREWER: Can you share a success story that you are proud of in your job or maybe a story of how you learned from a situation that has altered your thoughts on how you do your job now?
CLARK: On a personal level I’d say my greatest success story was obtaining my Master Brewers Diploma from the Siebel Institute/World Beer Academy. On a team level it would be medaling at GABF.
BREWER: Can you touch on something your brewery has added lately that’s unique or making your business more successful (it could be equipment, technology or people)?
CLARK: The production facility has recently invested in our QA/QC with some great equipment on the floor as well as expanding the lab.
BREWER: Can you touch on something your brewery has added lately that’s unique or making your business more successful (it could be equipment, technology or people)?
CLARK: The production facility has recently invested in our QA/QC with some great equipment on the floor as well as expanding the lab.
BREWER: If you had one business strategy that you could implement to better the brewing industry, what would it be?
CLARK: Remove the lobbyist from big beer.
CLARK: Remove the lobbyist from big beer.
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