Brewer Magazine Q&A: Mark Theisen, Coronado Brewing

This is a part of a continuing series of Q&As with brewers from across the U.S.
Brewer Magazine will share business and personal insights from Brewmasters, Head Brewers, Brewing Managers and others each weekend to help you, a fellow brewer, Brewmaster or brewing manager get to know each other better in the industry and learn more to better develop your own brand.

Mark Theisen, Head Brewer, Coronado Brewing — San Diego

BREWER: What is a lesson learned within your position that sticks with you to this day?
THEISEN: Take the job seriously. We make beer and it is fun, but there are hazards and they should always be respected.

BREWER: Who is your mentor in the industry and why? What have your learned from them?
THEISEN: John Egan, Director of Brewing Operations at Mission Brewery. He gave me my first craft brewing job and his mentorship set the foundation that I have built my entire career on.

BREWER: What have you added to your brewery lately that’s unique or making your business more successful?
THEISEN: Last year we got a centrifuge. This allows us to make a more consistent and stable product, while increasing our efficiencies.

BREWER: In today’s business climate for craft beer, how will your brewery grow?
THEISEN: Exciting, well-marketed specialty releases are a must nowadays. Satellite locations are also huge because they allow us to be the local brewery to more neighborhoods as “Drink Local” continues to be a driving force in the craft beer industry.

BREWER: What sort of innovations in craft beer excite you?
THEISEN: I get excited when a new method or philosophy can change your perception of a product. For example, the hazy trend has created new buzzwords like “juicy.” It’s interesting to watch (and hopefully influence) the evolution of this industry by pushing style boundaries or methodology.

BREWER: If you had one strategy that you could implement to better the craft beer business, what would it be?
THEISEN: Transparency. One of our marketing guys already dubbed 2018 “the year of more content” on our social media platforms. With such a beer savvy clientele these days, we want people to feel connected with us and our beers by giving them access to what we do and how we do it.