Both avid music fans, frequent bar goers, and enthusiastic men-about-town in the early 2000s, we were acutely aware of the empty tap handle & store shelf where a local beer ought to be found in our nation’s capital. So, in 2009 we combined our years of experience in brewing and beverage distribution to found the DC Brau Brewing Company. In the years since, we’ve crafted beer that we want to drink, and we hope you continue to enjoy every last sip. Cheers!
Brandon has built a career on making sure people drink well. He had spent years in the hospitality and beverage industry, in house with Passion Foods Restaurants before moving onto a lengthy beverage sales career in wine with The Henry Wine Group and Frederick Wildman & Sons. He was keenly aware of the empty spot on DC’s local shelves and draft-lines for a hometown brew and set about changing that with partner Jeff Hancock in 2009 by establishing DC Brau. As CEO, Brandon has leveraged his business development and sales expertise to grow the company into one of the Mid-Atlantic’s most influential players with sights on continued growth both at home and overseas. Among its many accomplishments, the brewery has been recognized as Washington’s Brewery of the Year by the NY International Beer Competition, the Restaurant Association of Metro Washington’s RAMMY Awards, Washingtonian Magazine & The Washington Post.
Brewing beer is Jeff Hancock’s passion. After more than a decade brewing for other breweries, including Franklin’s, Grizzly Peak, Arbor Brewing, and Flying Dog, he teamed up with Brandon Skall in 2009 to build DC Brau. In the years since, Jeff and his team have crafted a portfolio of beers that reflect the kinds of beer they like to drink — big hoppy IPAs, traditional English styles & easy-to-drink lagers. Under his helm, DC Brau has become a staple on beer lists in the National Capital Region racking up awards across the globe. When he’s not in the brewhouse, you can find Jeff at the decks pursuing his other love, music.
Mari Rodela is DC Brau’s Chief Community & Culture Officer, part of the Executive Team with the co-founders. During her career, she has played a central role in facilitating strategic and organizational development & systems development and implementation for both for- and non-profit organizations. As a long time DC area resident, Mari is proud to play a key leadership role in a business that contributes to the sustainability and growth of DC’s local economy and community. She is also the President & Co-Founder of the DC Brewers’ Guild and sits on the Board of Think Local First DC.
Kayleigh Tanthorey transferred her business acumen from the tattoo world to craft beer when she relocated to the nation’s capital in the spring of 2017 to join DC Brau as its new Business Development Manager. When she isn’t out meeting with accounts or working with her rock star sales team, Kayleigh flexes her artistic wings to put her own special mark on the Brau brand.
An upstate New Yorker with Terrapin roots, Steve Carnes returned to the DMV in 2019 to join the DC Brau team as Head of Sales. Most recently the East Coast Regional Manager of Revolution Brewing, Steve brings a depth of sales experience from years on both the brewery and distribution sides of the business. A Certified Cicerone© and long-time homebrewer, don’t be surprised if you find him sipping from a flute of good French Champagne listening to Mozart when he’s not on the clock.
Ashley Howe joined the team in June 2017 to handle the brewery’s human resources and administrative needs. She fell in love with craft beer while in school at University of Colorado in Boulder. An avid nature-lover whose favorite place on earth is Acadia National Park, Ashley hopes to one day become a maple syrup producer.
What started as a hobby in homebrewing has led to more than a decade’s worth of experience that incorporates all aspects of brewery operations, from grain to glass, for DC Brau’s Head Brewer Rob Rodriguez. This Colorado native has made stops in Denver, Phoenix, and Detroit on his way to the District where he joined the team in 2019. When he’s not brewing or visiting other breweries, you’ll find Rob travelling with his wife, playing hockey, and jumping out of perfectly good airplanes.
ALAN LEFEBRE
Tasting Room Manager
STEPHEN TAYLOR
MD & VA Sales Manager
BEN TOLKAN
DC Sales Manager
COLM KELLY
Lead Brewer
MIKE BENISH
Brewer
ALEX SPENCER
Brewer
KEVIN NICE
Brewer
SAM DELP
Brewer
DAVID HALL
Packaging Manager
DJ HOLDER
Warehouse Logistics Coordinator
JARED BUNIGER
Packaging Technician
MIKE JONES
Packaging Operator
DAVE CAVALCANTE
Delivery Driver
KYLE FLORA
Delivery Driver
GREG JONES
Delivery Driver
MICAH SUMLER
Delivery Driver
CHELSEA BAILEY
CRAB CARR
CINDY GUZMAN
ERIN BALLENTINE
JOE WELSH
MAGGIE SNYDER
MIKE STEIN
PAUL JOSUNS
SLIM MISHOE
CASSIE KIENBAUM
MARK ACUNIN
MAX