Arizona’s Most Beerfluential: #1
To round out the Top 5 Most Beerfluential People voted by you, we have an individual that is always doing something pertaining to beer. Whether he is volunteering at a beer festival or hosting a variety of events at the Watering Hole at Whole Foods, he seems to be everywhere. Beer is his passion and drives him day to day.
Congratulations to James Swann for obtaining the #1 spot in our poll! Cheers!!
The Brew Bros: How long have you been in the craft beer community?
James Swann: I have been working here in AZ in the Craft Beer community since 2004. It all started in a small sports bar in Phoenix called Hazelwood’s First Place. Once a month I would do a Craft Beer Festival and tasting with Little Guy Distributing. We would taste at least 10–15 different craft beers each time. (This was before they were called World Class) In addition, we had Four Peaks night every Wednesday. 32 Ounces of any Four Peaks Draft for only $3.50! There were always 4–5 different Four Peaks Brews on Tap. Next Up was SanTan Brewing in 2007. I can’t tell you how much I learned while helping to open and run a brand new local craft brewery. Lots of great memories.
TBB: What types of things do you do in the community?
JS: Education is the biggest part for me. Bringing new people into the fold and giving them an opportunity to enjoy learning more about our passion for the craft. Through my Friday beer classes and my weekly column in AZ Weekly, I try to bring craft beer to people in a fun and entertaining way. The more you learn the more you can appreciate, and people do seem to be having fun
TBB: What do you feel is important for the state of Arizona to accomplish to gain an edge in craft beer?
JS: GROWTH and COOPERATION. In order for Arizona to become a strong suit in the craft beer world we must grow together with one eye on education and the other on team work. Our for fathers in beer culture such as Chuck Noll, Ron Kloth and Andy Ingram have been preaching for years about how craft beer would take hold here in AZ. We are now a new much larger group of educated enthusiasts, consumers and professionals. Living proof that they were spot on.
TBB: Why do you feel like your peers have voted you into the Top 5?
JS: I am hoping it’s down to passion and participation. My passion for craft beer is what drives me to do the things that I do within our community. We have great group of craft beer lovers here in AZ. that is growing every day. I would like to think a small amount of that growth is due to my efforts.
TBB: If you could do anything to help craft beer in Arizona, what would it be?
JS: If I could do anything to help Craft Beer it would again center on growth. I would love to find more effective ways to reach out to the everyday community at large. Let’s show them how important our local breweries are to our state’s economy, and how easy a transition craft beer can be. Let’s find new and exciting ways to grow people’s passion for quality craft and local products. Let’s take this one step at a time and build a strong deep rooted foundation.
TBB: Who in Arizona influenced your craft beer passion?
JS: Early doors my passion for craft beer in Arizona was influenced by people such as Teddy Golden from Four Peaks, Ron Kloth from Papago Brewing and the Old Great Arizona Beer Fest. Back when it was held in Phoenix. Later it was people like Laryd Mahler form Sonoran Brewing and Anthony Canecchia from SanTan Brewing. I remember those days fondly.
5 Comments
One really good one (James) out of five isn’t bad. Maybe next year the nominees can be asked to write in the reasons they feel like they should be on there. I am sure if people knew what some people were doing behind the scenes that were.doing the real influential work that was effected our beer drinking and who they were the
votes would have been different than what the results were of this social media popularity
contest. This poll would have been better named as who is your favorite local beer person instead of who is most beerfluential since it has no reflection on that. I e Andy Ingram fighting state franchise law and building a big new brewery Ron Kloth helping draft the new growler law, Anthony Canneclia fighting to raise production caps, Maureen Basenberg with her girls pint night out group George Hancock who is trying to fight brewers excise tax, rich Williams of Diamondback Distributing who is bringing in brands like Epic and Knee Deep that the other distributors don’t want or Chuck Noll not just for his work with World Class but also with the Beer for Brains foundation. All of these are really more beerfluential than some of those who won this poll.
Chris, all those people you named were in the poll. The results are a reflection of those that voted. What needs to happen is more people need to vote and not turn their noses to it. It was supposed to be a fun way to bring attention to those in the industry that others may not have known about. As I have said a dozen times, this poll is in its early stages and things will be presented differently next year. As always, thanks for the feedback. Cheers.
First off, congratulations to King James and the other Beerfluentails.
All the names mentioned by Chris are most certainly worthy of the title as are numerous others.
If you are not lifting the most weight or running the fastest, a contest will most likely be subjective or controversial to some degree.
What is cool? Arizona now has a list of Beerfluentails so large we are debating winners. The winners are the winners and they deserve their titles. Funny, they all seemed to feel others were more deserving. The passion is growing as is the list of AZ Beerfluentails. I’LL DRINK TO THAT!
Cheers to all involved. Well deserved and please keep brewing, selling, supporting, cheering, drinking with current friends and people that will become friends. That is really what matters!
This beerfluential poll is the best thing to happen to me since Doritos locos tacos