Hopunion Ambassadors
Hopunion has had an ambassador program for many years. These are people that show a great love for brewing. They also know Hopunion LLC well and what it stands for in the world of hops. The ambassadors help Hopunion spread the word about hops and give Hopunion feedback to what they hear back. We are very particular who is an ambassador as we want people who are responsible to the industry. They have a great deal of knowledge about hops and how they are used in the beer making process. They help at festivals, conferences, and are a good source for information on hops. It has been a friendship over the years that we at Hopunion LLC value so very much. Be sure and talk with these Hopunion Ambassadors when you get a chance.
David Edgar
Originally from New York, David graduated from University of Colorado-Boulder in 1985 with a degree in music. In 1987 the Association of Brewers [now Brewers Association] hired him for an entry-level job. While there through early 2001 (including six years running the Institute for Brewing Studies), David helped dozens of brewers around the U.S. open their first brewpubs or microbreweries. He also had fun learning public speaking, event planning, statistics, talking to reporters, brewing, judging beer, and discovering how craft brewing is probably the best business anyone could be a part of. David attended Siebel Institute's Short Course in Brewing Technology. He received BAA's 2001 FX Matt Award for Defense of the Small Brewing Industry, and a Silver Tankard from the American Guild of Beer Writers in 1999.
After the association David had a brief stint with Loeffler Chemicals. Now he runs his own 1-man company, Mountain West Brewery Supply, Inc., as a manufacturer's rep for some of the best suppliers to the industry, including Hopunion, and White Labs yeast on the brewing side; and on the marketing/sales side, Chrislan Ceramics tap handles and CHRISDEC Enterprises, the U.S. sales agent for Rastal glassware. David loves learning more about hops and brewing and attending Hops and Brew School each year at Hopunion. He feels especially lucky to have joined the great team at Hopunion, led by Ralph and Ralph. Outside the beer world David enjoys spending time with his wife and two daughters, and listening to all kinds of music.
Dave & Becky Pyle
We have been helping to support Hopunion's client base in the Mid-Atlantic region since the mid 90's. During this period of time we have forged many lasting friendships with people in the brewing industry all over the United States of America. Having the opportunity to help educate the public at festivals has been great fun. I think this part of our work with Hopunion is especially gratifying. The beer enthusiast of today is surely the Craft Beer Brewer of tomorrow.
Tom Moench
I'm a Beer Geek trapped in a beer wasteland. It's like Mozart playing to the deaf. Florida is known for freezing cold, water beers served in cryogenically frozen mugs. I started homebrewing 20 years ago after I fell in love with Sam Smith's Not Brown Ale, but couldn't afford $11 six packs.
John Farver
I began home brewing in 1983 because in Utah at the time you couldn't get a good beer. When I moved to Yakima in 1986, I looked for a hop connection, figuring it could not get fresher than this. Good hops were hard to find in the early days for home brewers. I met the Ralph's and the rest is history. I attended some of the earliest brew fest's for Hopunion and then as the industry grew, graduated to trade shows. It's all a blur now, but for a while I owned a home brew supply store in Yakima, ending that endeavor when things just got too busy.
John Isenhour
The basis of my affiliation with Hopunion is for information exchange, I enjoy translating technical information into useful knowledge for the craft brewing community. Teaching at the Hopunion Hop and Brew School has been really rewarding. Working with guilds and brewers to bring understanding of new hops and their uses is great. And thanks for all the tours!
I was first involved with Hopunion when I was brew master of Joe's Brewery in Champaign, IL. As a customer I was impressed with the honesty and customer service. I was also teaching graduate fermentation science and Hopunion provided images, samples and information on hop growing a production. I use this information for presentations for brewers guilds and at other educational venues.
I started homebrewing about 25 years ago, and was a professional brewer during the late 1990's. My doctoral work revolved around brewing and I was able to interview many great people in our trade. I like the camaraderie that I see unanimously dispersed in the craft brewing scene. Brewers are the most friendly people I've met.
Phil Crane
It’s a long story about how a marine biologist ended up in the desert of Yakima for 16 years, but all ended well. It’s where I started homebrewing in 1990 and met the Ralphs soon after. After many brew festivals and trade shows with HopUnion, I’m proud to be an ambassador. I now live in Olympia, WA, but now and again still make the three hour drive back to Yakima to have a drink with old friends in the Tap Room at Hopunion.
Dan Schneider
Dan started his hop ambassadorship by working the Yakima Hop Harvest in 1994, and has had Lupulin in his veins ever since. Qualifications include decent palate, capable home brewer, and a friend of the family.