Modern Times Names Core Brewing Team

Modern Times Beer just announced their brewer line-up and managed to snag some great local talent for the team. Brewery founder Jacob McKean hinted in our Plywood Report that he'd been working to secure some locally recognizable names, and joining head brewer Matt Walsh, formerly of Lost Coast and Karl Strauss, are San Diegan home brewers turned pros Derek Freese and Alex Tweet.

Freese, the founding brewer at the East Village's Monkey Paw Pub and Brewery, will manage Modern Times' tasting room in addition to his brewing duties. Tweet comes to Modern Times from Ballast Point Brewing Company; his recipe for curry stout, Indra Kunindra, won a brewery-sponsored home brew contest and eventually a spot on their brewing crew. At Modern Times, he'll brew and oversee their barrel program.

When reached for comment, McKean said, "People who have been around the San Diego brewing community for a few years will understand what a coup it is for Modern Times to put this team together. I'm so excited to be providing these guys with the opportunity to work together and flex their big, burly brewing muscles."

As for who'll carry on the brewing torch at Monkey Paw? Owner Scot Blair told Eater that he's bringing another home brewer up to the big leagues. Blair's named Cosimo Sorrentino as Monkey Paw's new head brewer; Sorrentino was most recently part of the front of house staff at Hillcrest's Local Habit. Blair says, "Cosimo is coming to us with a superb palate and keen instinct for great beer against a wide variety of styles. I know he is going to be a wonderful fit."
· Modern Times Beer: A New Era of Brew [~ESD~]
· Modern Times Beer [Official Site]