Art Larrance - “Like most brewers we started out home brewing”

With a legacy perpetuating from 1985, Art Larrance is probably best known as one of the founding fathers of Oregon’s hugely successful craft beer industry. Most significant was Larrance’s help in initiating brewpub legislation that paved the way for breweries to brew and serve their own beer in Oregon – fostering an industry that has grown to more than 260 brewing facilities in the state.

Larrance also co-founded the Oregon Brewers Festival, which annually brings in 80,000 people and an estimated $29.3 million economic impact to the Portland area. As founder and owner of Raccoon Lodge & Brew Pub and Cascade Brewing in Portland – and previous owner/co-founder of Portland Brewing Co. – Art has distinguished himself as a successful operator contributing to the growth of the foodservice industry. His acclaim for helping pioneer a new beer style – Northwest Sour Ales – has garnered international attention from the media and legions of sour beer lovers.

Gary Glass - "State of Homebrewing in the US"

Gary Glass has been director of the American Homebrewers Association (AHA) since 2006 and has been on the AHA staff since 2000. As director of the AHA, Gary has been involved with efforts to legalize homebrewing in several states, as well as to pass homebrew rights legislation. In his work on homebrew legislation, Gary has testified at multiple state legislature committee hearings. As AHA director, Gary has worked to promote homebrewing and increase the popularity and image of homebrewing, helping to growth the ranks of homebrewers to well over 1 million US residents.

Gary started homebrewing in 1993. He is a Beer Judge Certification Program judge as well as a judge for the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup competitions. He has an MA in US History, is the husband of a fellow beer lover and father of a 7 year-old future brewer.