Portrait of a Brewer: Simon Lacey, New English Brewing

There are hundreds of talented brewing professionals giving their all to help maintain the San Diego beer industry’s storied reputation. While these industrious practitioners share numerous similarities, each is their own unique person with individual likes, dislikes, methodologies, techniques, inspirations, interests and philosophies. The goal of San Diego Beer News’ Portrait of a Brewer series is to not only introduce readers to local brewers, but dig in to help them gain a deeper appreciation for the people making their beer and how they have contributed to the county’s standout craft-brewing culture.

Today’s featured brewer is…

Simon Lacey
of New English Brewing

What is your current title? 
President / Founder / Brewer

Where did you grow up? 
England

What brought you to San Diego? 
Work

What was the first beer and/or alcoholic beverage you ever had? 
Double Diamond Lager from a big industrial brewery called Ind Coop. 

What was your a-ha moment that turned you on to craft beer? 
Moving to America taught me what I had been taking for granted. In 1990, I tried Pete’s Wicked Ale and was pleasantly surprised. I also found CooperSmith’s Pub & Brewing in Fort Collins, Colorado and Walnut Brewery in Boulder, and realized there were choices, even in the Mountain West.

What led you to consider a career in brewing? 
Being burned out on corporate America.

What was your first brewing/brewery position? 
I volunteered at Sports City Cafe & Brewery at La Jolla Village Square.

What breweries have you worked for over your career and in what roles? 
After Sports City, I started brewing at the former On Tap Bistro & Brewery in  UTC, before starting New English.

Who have been the individuals that have helped you the most to learn and advance in your career, and how? 
Joe Couzzo was the head brewer at Sports City and he mentored me, but I really wanted to learn my own craft rather than follow a more prescribed “apprenticeship”. Folks like Doug Hasker (Gordon Biersch) and Jeff Bagby (Pizza Port) were also always there to give advice or just listen if I needed help.

What singular piece of advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a professional brewer? 
Like any other job, look for a company with good values, a support structure, good people and a great reputation.

What ultimate career goal would you like to achieve? 
Retirement

What is your favorite beer you’ve ever brewed, be it on a professional or amateur level? 
Hmm, that’s really hard to say. The most long-lasting ones are Explorer ESB and Brewer’s Special Brown Ale, but I really like the lagers we are making now, as well.

What is your least-favorite beer you’ve ever brewed on any level? 
The ones we contract-brewed!

What are your favorite and least-favorite hop varietals at present? 
My old-school faves are Mosaic, Aloha and Centennial. My least fave varietals are any that are too piney.

What are some of your favorite brewing ingredients that aren’t hops? 
Well, there’s only three others, but apart from those we also use chocolate, coffee and fruit purees. I think we’ve made some really interesting beers with those.

If you weren’t a brewer, what do you think you would do for a living? 
Anything my wife tells me.

In your opinion, what non-brewing position is of great importance at a craft-beer company but often gets overlooked or less credit than those making the beer? 
Anybody pushing a mop.

What is your favorite beer style? 
I always go straight to the pub when I am back in the UK for locally produced cask session ales – really anything that has flavor and isn’t too “out there”.

If you could wipe one style of beer off the face of the earth, what would it be? 
I’m not gonna shit on anyone else’s favorite beer style. If I don’t like it, I’ll just avoid it. To each their own.

What single brewing company’s beers and/or ethos/style has been most influential on your style
It’s hard to say, really. I tend to stay in my lane and not compare myself or my brewery to others. I really admire Pizza Port Brewing and what they’ve built over the years.

What is your favorite San Diego County brewing company? 
See above. I also really like Coronado Brewing and Harland Brewing a lot.

What is your favorite brewing company outside of San Diego? 
I like Leffe blonde, but I like a lot of random stuff. It depends on the mood I’m in.

What three breweries that you haven’t yet visited—local or elsewhere—are on your current must-see bucket list? 
I’d love to do a Belgium-slash-abbey-beer tour. Also, even though I’m from just across the Irish Sea, I’ve never been to Dublin, so I’d love to visit Guinness.

What are your favorite local beer events? 
The first event of San Diego Beer Week is “Brews, Views & Chews”, an annual beer-and-food-pairing event at Tom Ham’s Lighthouse. This is my hands-down favorite.

If you were to leave San Diego, where would be the next-best place you’d want to brew? 
See above. At my age, retirement is next.

Which musical genre or artists are on your brew-day soundtrack/playlist? 
I’m more of a podcast guy. I like news and current events, so I’m always listening to Midas Touch Network presenters or Times Radio.

What motto rules the way you brew and approach brewing in a professional brewhouse? 
Be thorough. Be precise. Good enough is never the answer – we are the guardians of a trust placed in us by consumers and we have to uphold the highest standards to ensure the great reputation of San Diego as a brewery Mecca continues.

What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishments? 
Winning medals is always rewarding. It’s an affirmation of the hard work invested in a product.

What are you proud of having achieved in your personal life? 
Still being married.

When you’re not at work, what do you like to do for fun? 
I like clay pigeon shooting.

Where do you like to drink off-the-clock? 
Home mainly, but if not there, then the Plaza at 15th Street in Del Mar is the closest to our house. Along with some local and not-so-local beers, you can’t beat the view.

What is your favorite beer-and-food pairing of all time? 
See above. There have been too many great pairings at the Tom Ham’s event to list, but more generally, a really good burger with fries and a cold pint of craft lager, or a really hot Indian curry with a West Coast IPA.

If you could somehow plan your last beer dinner before dying, what would you drink and eat, and who would you invite to join you? 
If it was truly my last meal before dying, then I don’t think I’d give a damn about the food and drink. I’d just want my loved ones, family and friends to share it with me.

Who do you think you are (a purposely broad question)? 
Just a guy trying to do some good in the world, or at least not do any harm. 

If you’re a brewer at a San Diego brewing company and would like to be featured in our Portrait of a Brewer series, drop us a line at [email protected].