Like a lot of would-be beer makers, Brandon Hintz spent some time bouncing around jobs before discovering his brewing passion. The Marietta native worked in construction after graduating from Georgia Southern University, but lost his job when the real estate market went belly-up. He and his wife moved to Iowa, where he got a job with the Army Corps of Engineers, and started homebrewing on the side for fun. After four years in the Hawkeye State, his wife, also from Marietta, longed for home. It was a brewing position at SweetWater that did the trick, and the pair returned to Georgia. Ultimately, it was their time spent hanging out in downtown Roswell, and noticing how many Alpharetta citizens were doing the same, that would convince Hintz to open a beer spot a few miles north. Hop Alley Brewpub opened in Alpharetta in June 2013, serving up five house-made beers alongside guest drafts and bottles from the likes of Delirium Nocturnum, 21st Amendment, and Alpharetta local Jekyll Brewing.

• 563-570-1811 Phone
• brandon@hopalleybrew.com Email
• http://www.hopalleybrew.com Website
• Hop Alley Brew Pub

Chris Rice is Vice President of All About Beet Beer Magazine. In its 34th year, All About Beer Magazine has told the story of the tremendous diversity in beer, and the great people that make it. Jim Koch, founder of The Boston Beer Co and makers of Samuel Adams, has described All About Beer Magazine as the bible of our industry. Mr. Rice got started in the craft brewing industry by founding and operating Carolina Brewery, a nationally recognized brewpub in Chapel Hill NC. He is also a member of the Board of Advisors to Lone Rider Brewing Co in Raleigh, NC. He has graduated from the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill both undergrad and MBA, and considers himself a loyal Tar Heel.

• (919) 949-1225 Phone
• chris@allaboutbeer.com Email
• http://www.allaboutbeer.com Website
• All About Beer & World Beer Festivals

A native of England, Tony Forder has lived in the U.S. for 35 years. For 22 of them, he has been editor and co-publisher of Ale Street News, Americas largest circulation beer newspaper. Tony has appeared as beer expert for print and broadcast media, has presented a variety of beer events and dinners, and has led several beer tours in North America and Europe, especially Belgium. He recently chaired the panel of professional judges at the MBeer contest at the Mondial de la Biere Festival in Rio de Janeiro. Tony is known for his unique interpretations of beer by Flute and Haiku poetry.

• (201)368-9100 Phone
• tony@alestreetnews.com Email
• http://www.alestreetnews.com Website
• Ale Street News