This is huge news on the Seattle beer scene. Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery just announced the hiring of Kevin Forhan as its Head Brewer. Most recently, Kevin was the Regional Brewer at The RAM Restaurant and Brewery chain, but his pedigree includes time at Pike Brewing Company and Elysian Brewing Company.
If there were a hall of fame for Seattle brewers, Kevin Forhan would be a first-ballot hall-of-famer. For sure. Congratulations to Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery for landing a whale.
From Flying Bike:
Flying Bike declares their brewer
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Making history with a historian of the Seattle Beer scene
Seattle, May 5th, 2015- Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery (FBCB) is pleased to announce the hiring of FBCB Employee #1, Head Brewer, Kevin Forhan. After a difficult and humbling vetting process of extremely accomplished and impressive candidates, FBCB chose the brewer who’d most speak to their culture of cooperation, collaboration, and community.
Kevin, most recently, was the Regional Brewer for RAM Restaurant & Brewery chain. If there was a Hall of Fame of Seattle Brewers, Kevin’s unique pint glass would adorn the sidewalk leading up from Pike Brewing where he earned his stripes as one of their first brewers, establishing what is their current brewhaus. He brewed at Big Time for seven years and after a short stay in Spain, returned home to open the Elysian Fields location for Elyisan Brewing. Kevin’s passion for making beer as a reflection of people and purpose is exactly what lead to his decision to join FBCB. In his own words:
“The Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery is clearly something special. Many people have worked long and hard, essentially as volunteers, to make it happen. Brewing is hard work, and there are always challenges, but the very things I’ve found most rewarding—the daily, hands-on craft of it, the collaborative problem-solving, the shared talents, and the direct connection with the consumer, with the neighborhood, with the greater brewing and beer-loving community, and with the larger community beyond that—happen to be very emphatically exactly what the Flying Bike is all about. I’m honored, excited, a little nervous, and very hopeful that the Flying Bike has a future as unique and promising as its beginnings.”
In perfect time as FBCB’s 7 barrel brewing system arrived from Bridgetown Brew Systems on Monday, May 4th, Kevin will join Flying Bike immediately as a consultant for the remainder of the build-out during his transition out of RAM. Although most breweries begin with a head brewer at the helm, FBCB earned theirs through the sheer will and determination to prove brewing beer is a direct reflection of the community it serves. FBCB’s motto of “Member Driven Beer™” will now be carried out in this new stage of Co-op development, with an esteemed Head Brewer confidently at the helm of it’s Brewhouse.
FBCB will be the first cooperative brewery in WA State and 4th in the nation once they open in June 2015
FBCB currently has 1091 members (www.flyingbike.coop has the most up-to-date number)
FBCB has acquired all 5 founding recipes through member driven home brew competitions. The Storm Cycle CDA is currently on tap at Counterbalance Brewing and is available for distribution through their brewery.
About Kevin Forhan- Kevin Forhan is a Seattle native who grew up in the Wedgewood neighborhood. He has been a craft brewer in Seattle since 1990, beginning at Pike Place (now Pike) Brewery, and moving on to serve as head brewer of the Big Time Brewery in the University District from 1997 to 2004. After a two-year adventure living in Spain, he returned to join Elysian Brewing Company as the original head brewer of their Elysian Fields location, and has most recently held the position of Regional Brewer for RAM International, after beginning as head brewer of their Northgate location. He is a multiple Great American Beer Festival award winner and has taken a special interest in cask-conditioned beer, Belgian styles, and the creative use of hops.
About FBCB: Flying Bike Cooperative Brewery is a member owned cooperative opening a brewery in June 2015 at 8750 Greenwood Ave N, featuring member beer recipes and taking input from members on various aspects of the business.
