Catching Up with David Lin, Owner, Comrade Brewing
I started brewing in 2005 on a 15-barrel system in west Texas. I was still finishing up school and had an opportunity to jump into it after a couple years of homebrewing. After graduation, I moved to Colorado and took a “real” job in the corporate dining sector. I really enjoyed the craft beer industry and after a full work week, still spent my nights and weekends helping an out of state brewery. A few years later, I needed a career change and left the corporate world and was hired at Dry Dock Brewing and trained under Bill Eye (who’s now at Bierstadt Lagerhaus). I went back to school and Comrade Brewing opened the doors in early 2014.1. What is your brewing philosophy/How would you describe your brewery’s style?
We’re a brewery, founded and run by brewers. We brew beers we like to imbibe; contemporary takes on American styles, IPA heavy and focused on drinkability.2. Are there any awards/recognitions you’re particularly proud of?
In 2019 we won Small Brewing Company of the Year Great American Beer Festival®. We won two gold medals, one for our flagship Superpower IPA. The other is the commemorative More Dodge Less RAM in one of the most competitive categories, American-Style India Pale Ale. In 2020, we won another medal for Superpower IPA.3. Who do you consider a mentor in beer and why?
Bill Eye at Bierstadt Lagerhaus in Denver and Tyler Brown at Barley Brown’s in Baker City, OR. They both offer a wealth of knowledge and more than two decades of industry experience. It’s great to talk about what has changed in the beer industry during that time and what hasn’t.
