Right now, local fermentationist Derek Gallanosa is on a plane headed to New York City to accept some serious hardware at Thursday night’s Next Wave Awards after being named National Brewer of the Year. Presented by beverage news outlet VinePair, representatives of which selected three finalists per category and, ultimately, the winners in each, the competition pitted GOAL. Brewing’s head brewer against industry colleagues from Portland, Oregon’s Brujos Brewing and Santa Fe, New Mexico brewery, Keeping Together. As nth-level craft-beer enthusiasts are aware, that is some stiff competition, making Gallanosa’s win all the more significant. This felt like the perfect time to catch up with him and chat about the latest in his impressive line of accolades and the state of the craft-beer industry.
How did you learn you were a finalist for this award?
On the morning of August 26, I received an email stating that I was a finalist for the Next Wave Awards, which [per VinePair] “celebrates the individuals and organizations driving the drinks industry to be more imaginative, sustainable and all-around better for everyone in it.” At first I thought it was a scam, because I never knew VinePair had these awards and immediately thought of how there was no way I would be considered as a National Brewer of the Year over all my peers. Then I clicked on the link that brought me back to the section of their website listing all the finalists and it finally set in. I was shocked and also stoked to see that the other finalists were friends of mine. I texted them both to congratulate them and ended up breaking the news to each one. I guess they check their emails later in the day.
How did you feel you measured up to your fellow finalists?
Honestly, I thought there was no way I was going to win. Sam Zermeño at Brujos Brewing is making beer exciting with his hazy IPAs. He’s pushing the boundaries of hop saturation and still has lines for his can releases, which is impressive nowadays, especially in a popular beer town like Portland. Averie Swanson at Keeping Together has been a force in the industry for a long time. Her appreciation for saisons and the many ingredients that can complement that style is inspiring for somebody like me who also takes base styles and attempts to build layers of flavor using additional ingredients.
What does it mean to be recognized and why do you feel you were selected as a finalist?
Besides being named a 2017 Top 100 Brewer in the World by RateBeer, this is probably the top honor I have received professionally. I don’t know exactly what compelled the team at VinePair to select me as their National Brewer of the Year, but looking at the criteria of how finalists were selected, I imagine my dedication and curiosity for innovating popular styles and the fact I’m an instructor teaching future generations of industry workers through San Diego State University‘s Business of Craft Beer certificate program played a factor in their final decision.
What do you foresee for the next generation of the craft beer industry, both those who are a part of it as well as consumers and fans?
I think future generations need to understand the current climate of the craft beer industry to succeed. For industry workers, that not only means creating a high-quality product, but also creating a high-quality experience for the consumer, whether it be at your retail location(s) or wherever they consume your products. Consumers have more choices on everything nowadays and are being more selective with their spending habits. That means companies must look beyond the beer and dedicate time to focusing on marketing, consumer experience and brand identity. For consumers, I can only hope we get back to a time where visiting and supporting small businesses is trendy and fulfilling for them. We, as industry workers, work our asses off to provide a quality product and experience for our guests. Seeing people visit us and buy what we have to offer motivates us to continue to do what we do. We are codependent and, together, we can help this craft beer community survive.
What is on the near- and long-term horizon for GOAL.?
I don’t even want to think about long-term plans at the moment. The main focus is to create and sell more beer, mainly in-house, while maintaining the quality that we have become known for. Satisfying those immediate needs will lead to more opportunities in the future. We are in an era where craft beer is fighting to maintain market share among so many “other consumables” and alternative beverages. We have hopes to make the craft beer community exciting to be a part of again.
Do you have any parting words before you jet off to NYC?
I challenge the craft beer community to use this interview – or any article you’ve read in San Diego Beer News – as the inspiration for making at least one extra visit to a locally owned brewery taproom that they did not already have planned. Bring friends, bring family or bring your dog since most taprooms are pet friendly. The money you spend at a San Diego small business keeps that money local instead of going to a big corporation. Let’s keep craft beer alive!
GOAL. Brewing is located inside the CRAFT by Brewery Igniter facility at 3052 El Cajon Boulevard, Suite 101 in North Park