Trap Door Brewing introduces new head brewer Tristan Karosas formerly of Single Hill — New School Beer + Cider

Besides fresh hops beers, Tristan is excited to brew the Italian style Pils, Birra de Famiglia, which won a silver medal at this year’s North American Brewers Association’s International Beer Awards. Drinking that beer made him take pause, “I knew Jake was good, but to have a beer like that, I knew I was in the right place.” Getting the opportunity to make, “one of the best Italian style beers that I have had,” is something Tristan wanted to make happen. Jake wanted to make it happen too. He knows, “having an experienced person that the load can be split with,” helps not only with brewing, but all of the administrative tasks that go along with being a head brewer. Jake isn’t afraid to push a little and think outside the old boxes. “I think a little redundancy is helpful,” says Jake on his operational outlook considering his desire to attract outstanding talent in order to have time to be creative and move the industry forward. He thinks the dual head brewer model, “is going to work out famously,” because it isn’t just about hierarchy and titles, it’s about the right people in the right places working as a team.

When visiting Tristan and Jake at the production brewery, it was evident they speak the same language, are calm, respectful and have micro education moments with each other. Discussing harvests, yeast management and a deep academic dive into West Coast Pils displays how both brewers want to constantly improve themselves and their products. Jake says, “it’s never bad to put talent together,” and sometimes timing helps too. With the current assistant brewer, Toby Armstrong moving to another state at the end of summer and Jake taking an extended vacation, he started to prepare for a longer than average learning curve for a replacement. Then some creativity happened. Tristan and Jake scheduled a time to meet and now everyone benefits from the two head brewer partnership and a short training window. Guests, suppliers and other Trap Door teammates will enjoy a seamless transition. While Jake was away, Toby and Tristan brewed a collaboration beer with Buoy Beer for Brewing Bridges. Jake and Toby worked together at Buoy Beer, so it’s special to have a Trap Door/Buoy collaboration beer to say goodbye and get to brew it with Tristan.