It’s hard to call it a homecoming when you never really left, but that’s exactly how 21st Amendment’s Dave Wilson views his recent appointment as partner and president with the San Francisco-based craft beer company.
In 2011, Wilson got the entrepreneurial itch and teamed up with former Deschutes brewmaster, Larry Sidor, and TBD Advertising president, Paul Evers, to launch the Bend, Ore-based Crux Fermentation Project. At the time, Wilson was serving as the vice president of sales and marketing for 21A.
“The thought, initially, was to transition away from 21A,” he told Brewbound. “The day I told Nico [Freccia] and Shaun [O’Sullivan] (21A founders), I was prepared for them to tell me to pack my things.”
To his surprise, Freccia and O’Sullivan asked him to stay on board with the company while he opened Crux.
So, for the last three years, Wilson has literally worn two hats. In fact, Wilson could sometimes be seen at industry events donning both a 21st Amendment embroidered hat and a Crux Fermentation shirt.
“I never really left,” he told Brewbound. “I just went from being extremely involved in the day to day activities to working with Nico and Shaun on bigger picture stuff.”
Three years later, Wilson has decided to sell his interest and has pledged his allegiance to 21A.
“It became really apparent to me that we had gone through a lot of stuff together and this was my home,” he said.
In his new capacity, Wilson will oversee all aspects of the day-to-day operations, including the business and production departments of the brewery, brewpub, and will be closely involved in the development of 21st Amendment’s new production brewery in San Leandro, Calif.
A full press release with additional details is below.
San Francisco, CA (March 2014) — 21st Amendment Brewery has appointed Dave Wilson as the company’s new partner and President of the popular craft beer company. Wilson, who has been with the 21st Amendment team since 2008 began as their National Sales and Marketing Director when the company first launched their packaged beer on to the market, making 21st Amendment one of the first craft breweries in America to offer their beer exclusively in cans.
“Dave has been critical to our growth and success and has been deeply involved in every aspect of our business since the beginning. We feel extremely fortunate to have him running our team,” states 21st Amendment co-founder Nico Freccia. “With Dave’s 21 years of beer business experience on the distributor side, supplier side and restaurant side, Dave is a one-of-a-kind beer guy and we’re thrilled to have him now as a full-time partner.”
“When Nico and I started selling beer outside our pub in San Francisco we knew as much about that as selling hats. Having Dave join the 21A has taken us from our humble beginnings to where we are today. It’s as big time as it gets,” adds co-founder and Brewmaster Shaun O’Sullivan.
For the past few years, Wilson has been involved as a co-founder of Crux Fermentation Project, a brewery venture in Bend Oregon, which Wilson helped open in 2012. Having parted with Crux, Wilson will be devoting his full attention to 21st Amendment. “The future growth of the 21A is my top priority,” states Wilson. “These are exciting times with the construction and opening of our new facility in the Bay Area. The 21st Amendment is a special place and I’m proud to call this home.”
As President, Wilson will oversee all aspects of the day-to-day operations of 21st Amendment’s production and business departments at the brewery offices, the company’s partner brewery in Cold Spring, MN and the San Francisco brewpub. Wilson will also be closely involved in the development of 21st Amendment’s new production brewery opening this fall in San Leandro, CA.
About 21st Amendment:
In 2000, Freccia and O’Sullivan opened the doors to the 21st Amendment brewpub in San Francisco’s historic South Park neighborhood with Freccia managing the restaurant and O’Sullivan spearheading the brewing process. In addition to quickly becoming one of the city’s favorite pubs, 21st Amendment began expanding beyond the Bay Area by helping to pioneer the movement to canned craft beer. Known for their witty names and delicious brews, 21st Amendment offers three year round selections, as well as seasonal offerings and their infamous ‘Insurrection Series’, a once-in-a-while limited edition release. Today, 21st Amendment is among the top 50 craft beer brewers in America and is sold in 17 states.