Portrait of a Brewer: Jeremy Moynier, Stone Brewing

There are hundreds of hard-working brewing professionals giving their all to help maintain the storied reputation San Diego’s brewing scene has earned over the past several decades. Some have risen to great fame among industry pros and craft-beer enthusiasts. Some ply their trade in obscurity (and are more than happy to do so). Some are Instagram famous, trendsetters with cult followings that would rival social-media influencers. And while they share plenty of similarities, each is their own unique person with their own likes, dislikes, methods, techniques, inspirations, interests and philosophies. The goal of San Diego Beer News‘ Portrait of a Brewer series is to not only introduce you to local brewers, but to have some fun delving into the aforementioned areas so you can get to know them a little better and appreciate them and their contributions to the county’s standout brewing culture. All that plus stellar portraits from brewery lifestyle photographer extraordinaire Matt Furman.

Today’s featured brewer is…

Jeremy Moynier

of Stone Brewing

What is your current title?

Senior Manager – Innovation Program & Supply Chain

Where did you grow up?

San Diego. We moved here when I was 3. My dad went to SDSU after serving in the military.

What was the first beer and/or alcoholic beverage you ever had?

Henry Weinhard’s Private Reserve (that’s what my Dad drank in the ‘80s)

What was your a-ha moment that turned you on to craft beer?

Karl Straus Oatmeal Stout. I had had Guinness and thought it was very different than all the fizzy yellow beers out there that everyone was drinking. And then to have this beer off the tap from a local San Diego brewery….magic.

What led you to consider a career in brewing?

Long story, but quickly: I graduated with a literature/writing degree from UCSD, and had NO IDEA what I was going to do. I moved to Colorado for a year to be a bum, then went to California’s Central Coast with my girlfriend since she got into Cal Poly. I started working at wineries in Paso Robles and fell in love with wine…but fell in love with craft beer even more. It’s true what they say: “It takes a lot of good beer to make good wine.” I got laid off, took a detour to Arizona, then returned to San Diego to try to do something new. There were 35 breweries in town and wineries were too far away, so I decided to take a crack at this beer thing.

Where did you first apply for a brewing job and where did you get your first brewing/brewery position?

I applied to Stone Brewing and San Marcos Brewery, chose Stone and started as a filter operator.

What breweries have you worked for over your career and in what roles?

Amazingly enough….just Stone! But, hey, that’s coming up on 18 years. I’ve been a filter pperator, brewer, brewing supervisor, lead brewer, and now my current role, which is always changing!

Who have been the individuals that have helped you the most to learn and advance in your career, and how?

I’ve had really good managers and mentors throughout my 18 years, both at Stone and folks in the industry. There are way too many to name them all but from Stone I’ve had excellent bosses: Lee Chase, Mitch Steele, John Egan and Joel Grosser.

What singular piece of advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a professional brewer?

Be humble and realize you can always learn more. That’s the singular answer. Work your ass off, listen and be a team player would be the expanded version.

What ultimate career goal would you like to achieve?

To know everything…I know that won’t happen but I’ll keep learning.

What is your favorite beer you’ve ever brewed, be it on a professional or amateur level?

Stone 12th Anniversary Bitter Chocolate Oatmeal Stout

What is your least-favorite beer you’ve ever brewed on any level?

I had a hand in Stone Hop Revolver Herkules…

What are your favorite and least-favorite hop varietals at present?

I could go on and on about hops. I’m hard-pressed at the moment to pick favorites and least favorites. I’ll keep it simple and list El Dorado as a favorite. Cascade is an amazing hop that we never use.

If you weren’t a brewer, what do you think you would do for a living?

Starving musician

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?

Schedule planner

What is your favorite beer style?

IPA (thought I was going to say stout didn’t you…that would be a close second)

If you could wipe one style of beer off the face of the Earth, what would it be?

Pumpkin beers, but I’m sure there are some good ones out there. I’m just not a fan.

What single brewing company’s beers and/or ethos/style has been most influential on your style?

Too many to narrow it down.

What is your favorite San Diego County brewing company?

I’ll be political and not answer. We are lucky to live in a city with so many amazing breweries.

What is your favorite brewing company outside of San Diego?

See above but apply it to the world.

What three breweries that you haven’t yet visited—local or elsewhere—are on your current must-see bucket list?

Russian River’s Windsor brewery (amazing that I haven’t been there yet), New Glarus Brewing and Cantillon…I’ve been to a lot of breweries but there are tons I still need to visit.

What are your favorite local beer events?

It’s hard to name one. I liked San Diego Beer Week back in the day. Really, I like to go to local beer events to visit with all my friends, so it’s more about the people than the event.

If you were to leave San Diego, where would be the next-best place you’d want to brew?

No reason to leave San Diego, but I do love the Central Coast of California.

Which musical genre or artists are on your brew-day soundtrack/playlist?

Hard to narrow it down as I like A LOT of music, but The Grateful Dead, The Ramones, old Genesis, The Beatles, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, Wilco…just to name a few.

What motto rules the way you brew and approach brewing in a professional brewhouse?

You can never be clean enough.

When you’re not at work, what do you like to do for fun?

Walking, hiking, playing music, eating, drinking and just hanging with good people.

What do you like to drink off-the-clock?

Besides beer…red wine and gin.

Who do you think you are (a purposely broad question)?

What a question! A person trying to get the most out of life.

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].