The Bonfire Brewing Team. It takes a village.
Andy Jessen, Co-Founder and Master of Minutiae: Andy has the most years in school relative to the rest of the team, and thus also has the most extensive beer consumption experience. This qualification alone should probably suffice, but luckily he also obtained a law degree and some experience in the regulatory field before jumping into the brewing business. He’s also good at darts, which we feel is important.
Matt Wirtz, Co-Founder and Beverage Engineer: Let’s not beat around the proverbial bush here — Matt is the mastermind behind our 100% hand-built brewing system and our creative recipes. Equal parts welder, electrician, plumber, and engineer, there is very little he can’t tackle, although we’ve yet to see him wrestle a bear. On a side note, we don’t allow bears at the brewery. At least not until we get some seats that could comfortably accommodate them.
Amanda H. Jessen, Dominatrix of Design: Every time you see something Bonfire Brewing related and think “hey, that’s cool,” chances are Amanda created it. An artist, web designer, person herder, and humble receiver of ridiculous nicknames, Amanda is the heart of our design, marketing, and promotion efforts. You may occasionally catch her tending bar at the tap room, where she goes by her stage name: “Manderpants.”
Ken Hoeve, Ale Ambassador: Ken’s role with the company often resembles a giant, friendly, beer soaked amoeba. We mostly brought him along for his enthusiasm — he sort of makes you feel like you have a really intense life coach when he’s around. In addition to his “LET’S DO THIS” motivational speeches, however, Ken is a vital cog in the Eagle Valley community (i.e. walking billboard), and has helped spread the word about Bonfire Brewing.
Phil Jessen, Smoking Man: Phil is a passive investor who thinks we’re going to make him rich. Seriously? Didn’t you notice he has the same uncommon, frequently misspelled, last name as Andy? Phil injected the first dose of start-up cash for the company and holds a revered position in Bonfire Brewing’s long, storied history. Without him, we’d still just be Chiminea Brewing.
