Portrait of a Brewer: Daniel Cady, TapRoom Beer Co.

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…

Daniel Cady
of TapRoom Beer Co.

What is your current title?
I am Head Brewer at TapRoom Beer Co.

Where did you grow up? 
I was born in Washington State, and moved to San Diego in 2000. I have been here ever since.

What brought you to San Diego?
My father was in the Navy and received San Diego as his assigned duty station.

What was the first beer and/or alcoholic beverage you ever had?
Natty Ice, baby. That was short-lived. High School, amiright?

What was your a-ha moment that turned you on to craft beer?
I was a freshman at San Diego State when I moved out on my own. My housemate at that time was already into the BeerAdvocate trading scene and was getting boxes in the mail almost weekly. He told me how it worked and let me try some of the fun things he was getting – Bell’s Hopslam, Founder KBS, Bourbon County, sours, you name it. Shortly after that he started getting into homebrewing a bit and the hobbyist in me was immediately in awe. You’re telling me I can trade beer online and make it myself? Thanks, Randy…you’re the man.

What led you to consider a career in brewing?
My housemate and I went full-steam into the trading game together, amassing a nice collection and getting involved in some local tasting groups. We kept homebrewing together and won a couple of awards. He was working for Manzanita Brewing as a production assistant and bartender at the time, and convinced me to look into getting an entry-level position somewhere to see if I would like it.

What was your first brewing/brewery position?
My first gig was at El Cajon Brewing Co. The founding brewer had split, and I was brought in after sharing a couple of my homebrews with their consultant brewer, Dean Rouleau. I was the sole brewer for that pub for a fiery year or so, before transitioning to production at Manzanita Brewing’s newly minted 30-barrel production facility.

What breweries have you worked for over your career and in what roles?
I was at Manzanita Brewing for about three years, working alongside some of the local GOATs (Cody Morris – Harland Brewing, Mike Stevenson – Culver Beer Co. and MiraCosta College’s Brewtech Program). We had a blast with barrel aged beers, some of San Diego’s first hazy IPAs, quirky Belgian ales and Razor Scooter kickflip contests. In 2016, I joined Mikkeller Brewing San Diego’s initial production staffI. I left there on December 30, 2021.

Who have been the individuals that have helped you the most to learn and advance in your career, and how?
I am extremely lucky to have had the group of mentors I have, some being the oldest friends I have in this industry. Dean gave me my first shot. Kris Ketcham (Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station) and Ryan Brooks (SouthNorte Beer Co.) were my first collaboration partners, and they are still immovable forces in this biz. Nathan Lang at Manzanita Brewing always held us accountable and forever pushed us for betterment. Doug Hasker (Puesto Cervecería) has kept us dialed in with his 121 years of dedicated experience. And my great friend and colleague, Anthony Sorice from Root + Branch Brewing in Long Island, New York – together we have navigated our careers in near parallel, pushing boundaries and making noise. And the endless list of homies now and ahead that are always down for brewing some silliness, going big and being better together.

What singular piece of advice would you give to someone interested in becoming a professional brewer?
Don’t wait for knowledge and experience to come to you. Go and get it.

What ultimate career goal would you like to achieve?
I want to co-operate a pub concept with my best friends and family, serving quality food and beverage, within an elite level of hospitality and experience.

What is your favorite beer you’ve ever brewed, be it on a professional or amateur level?
My very first batch of raspberry-coffee Berliner weisse when I was at Manzanita. I would have never guessed the impact it would go on to have.

What is your least-favorite beer you’ve ever brewed on any level?
Super Gløgg. It was a Danish mulled/fortified-wine-inspired strong ale made with almonds, spices, cherry, citrus, Kveik yeast and a bunch of other nonsense. That beer was tough. Thanks to Cosimo Sorrentino for falling on that sword with me…ha!

What are your favorite and least-favorite hop varietals at present?
My favorite is Motueka. It does some amazing things for me. My least-favorite is crappy Centennial.

What are some of your favorite brewing ingredients that aren’t hops?
Quality bourbon and whiskey barrels.

If you weren’t a brewer, what do you think you would do for a living?
Professional Wingsuit flyer for Red Bull or something.

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?
Anyone and everything involved in raw materials. From the farms to the breweries, they are undoubtedly the makers of our craft.

What is your favorite beer style?
A good Helles lager.

If you could wipe one style of beer off the face of the earth, what would it be?
Quadruple and quintuple IPA. We don’t need ‘em.

What single brewing company’s beers and/or ethos/style has been most influential on your style?
Lots of Pacific Northwest brewers, Root + Branch and saison.

What is your favorite San Diego County brewing company?
His name is Bagby.

What is your favorite brewing company outside of San Diego?
Varietal Beer Co. in Sunnyside, Washington, and Ebeltoft Gårdbryggeri in Denmark

What three breweries that you haven’t yet visited—local or elsewhere—are on your current must-see bucket list?
Otherlands Beer, Allagash Brewing and going back to Ebeltoft.

What are your favorite local beer events?
Fresh-hop Fest at O’Brien’s Pub

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

Which musical genre or artists are on your brew-day soundtrack/playlist? 
Sonny Rollins, Earl Sweatshirt, The Mars Volta, The Grouch

What motto rules the way you brew and approach brewing in a professional brewhouse?
It’s just beer and we are human. Sometimes we make mistakes, but from those we learn and are better. 

What do you consider your greatest professional accomplishments? 
Finding this industry and allowing it to take me all over the world to visit new and exciting places, meeting lifelong friends along the way.

What are you proud of having achieved in your personal life?
Meeting and marrying my best friend.

When you’re not at work, what do you like to do for fun?
Spend time with my beautiful wife and pups, golf and eat good ass food!

Where do you like to drink off-the-clock?|
Dave Ohmer would say Seek Beer Co, but that is technically on my way home from work and I don’t clock-out until I get home.

What is your favorite beer-and-food pairing of all time?
Seared horse flank and Ebeltoft Wildflower IPA at Bardok in Aarhus, Denmark. 

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? 
I would manifest all the crazy shit we’ve had over the years on our travels onto a buffet line with my family. The only beer on the table is the one my mom picks out.

Who do you think you are (a purposely broad question)? 
A good husband, older brother, son and friend.

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].