Tonya Cornett on Her Journey from the World’s Largest Brewer to One of the Smallest

Tonya Cornett thought she would end her career at 10 Barrel Brewing. She had joined the Bend, Oregon-based craft brewery in 2012, piled up competition medals for her beers and created a following at the brewery. She thrived as the brewery’s R&D brewmaster before and after its 2014 sale to Anheuser-Busch InBev (A-B).

But then Tilray Brands acquired 10 Barrel and seven other brands in 2023. A year later, Tilray laid off Cornett and members of her team in a move that shocked many within the industry.

On this week’s Brewbound Podcast, Cornett discusses her journey over the last decade-plus and her next chapter with Upp Liquids, a new venture in the rebranded Immersion Brewing space.

Cornett shares her experiences at A-B, how 10 Barrel and her role changed under Tilray’s ownership and her goals with Upp moving forward.

As the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) kicks off in Denver, Cornett also explains how medals have served as a stamp of approval throughout her career and why they remain relevant. Cornett’s beers have received numerous competition medals throughout the years, including 28 medals at the Brewers Association’s (BA) GABF and World Beer Cup. That doesn’t include 10 Barrel’s 2024 clean sweep of the German-style Sour Ale category during the 2024 GABF competition.

Before the interview, the Brewbound team runs through the latest headlines, including a big leadership shakeup at Molson Coors and Constellation Brands’ struggles as its largest consumer base remains under pressure.

Listen here or on your preferred podcasting platform.

Tonya Cornett thought she would end her career at 10 Barrel Brewing. She had joined the Bend, Oregon-based craft brewery in 2012, piled up competition medals for her beers and created a following at the brewery. She thrived as the brewery’s R&D brewmaster before and after its 2014 sale to Anheuser-Busch InBev.