Walking Man Brewing Hires Ryan Blasquez as Head Brewer
Walking Man Brewing, the quaint little brewpub in Stevenson, Washington, has hired Ryan Blasquez as its new Head Brewer. Ryan brings over one decade of brewing experience, all along the west coast, to Walking Man Brewing that will hopefully bring back this brewery to the prominence it once held.
His brewing career began at Three Creeks Brewing in Sisters, Oregon while working in the cellar. From there, Ryan took over as Lead Brewer for Bend Brewing Co. for four years. He then went on to the iconic Sierra Nevada Brewing to learn large-scale production that then led him back to the Pacific Northwest with a stint at Double Mountain Brewery & Cidery. Ryan now joins the team at Walking Man Brewing at its operations in Stevenson.
In his new role, Ryan will continue brewing Walking Man’s classics such as Walking Man IPA, Homo Erectus Imperial IPA and Cherry Stout. He will also be developing and brewing his own recipes to expand the offerings at the pub. With small-batch, hands-on production, focused primarily on producing beer for the Stevenson brewpub, Ryan will manage brewhouse operations, from procuring raw goods to having finished beer ready to be enjoyed.
“I hope to honor the legacy of the brand, while focusing on my love for hoppy, west coast IPAs, well-crafted lagers, and classic Pacific Northwest and English-style pub beers,” stated Blasquez in a press release.
Walking Man Brewing began with the vision of founder and original Brewmaster, Bob Craig when he opened the brewery nearly 25 years ago. His goal was to create a place that embodied the old-world essence of a small community brewpub. He began with a three-barrel batch of what became Pale Strider Pale Ale in 1999, Walking Man Brewing became the first microbrewery in Washington State’s Columbia River Gorge. Seven years later, the brewery was awarded two World Beer Cup awards, including one for Walking Man IPA.
“Over the last twenty-four years, we’ve seen the craft beer industry change tremendously. While we continue to adapt and evolve, Walking Man remains true to its roots. We’re a small pub in a small town with a small team, striving to craft great beer and create an atmosphere where everyone feels welcome to share what we do. We are thrilled Ryan is joining us on this journey,“ said Tabatha Wiggins, Co-Owner of Walking Man.
Walking Man Brewing is located in the Columbia River Gorge at 240 SW First Street in Stevenson, Washington. Learn more about the brewery at walkingmanbeer.com.
About The Author
DJ
D.J. is a Portland, Oregon based writer that spent his formative years in the Midwest. With over 25 years under his belt of drinking beer at festivals across America and the world, he has developed a strong appreciation and understanding of craft beer and the industry that surrounds it. He can be found in any of the great breweries or beer bars that make Portland the best beer city in the world. His writing can also be found in the archives of Northwest Brewing News and can be followed on Twitter and Instagram at @hopapalooza.