[ HAWAII AT WORK ]
Rich Tucciarone is director of brewery operations for Kona Brewing Co.
Beer brewer in Hawaii
has to be resourcefulThe greatest challenge of my job is also one of its greatest rewards -- problem-solving. Brewing beer in Hawaii is a challenge from the start because it is 40 percent more expensive to make beer here than on the mainland. Nearly all the ingredients must be shipped here, and utilities are costly. Due to this, I am always thinking of ways to make our company more viable. This includes reducing waste, improving efficiency and conserving energy.
I am responsible for anything and everything that relates to beer. There is absolutely no such thing as a "typical" day for me, and that is one of the things I love about my job. I manage my brew staff as we produce and package our beer, direct quality control, oversee inventory of both raw materials and finished product, work with our distributor to meet market demand, ensure our beer dispensing systems are working properly at our Kailua-Kona and new Koko Marina restaurants, and manage a budget, as well as many other duties that come with the territory, such as entering local, national and international competitions. Since I started here at Kona Brewing Co., our beers have received 16 medals at the prestigious U.S. Beer Championship.
Rich Tucciarone
Title: Director of brewery operationsCompany: Kona Brewing Co.
Quotable: "Of course, it's also very important to taste each beer on a regular basis to assure consistent quality."
I'm from the East Coast, born in the Bronx and raised in northern New Jersey. Twelve years ago I started my brewing career at the Breckenridge Brewery in Colorado. After working at Breckenridge for five years and completing courses and seminars at several institutes, I listed my resume with the Association of Brewers, a trade group. I can still remember vividly receiving the message, "Aloha! This is Kona Brewing Co. calling about a job in Hawaii." Needless to say, I returned that call immediately and never looked back.
I live in Kailua-Kona with my wife and 1-year-old son. To celebrate his birth last year, I brewed Bambino's Bitter Ale, which became quite a hit in the pub.
July is American Beer Month, a nationwide celebration of the quality and diversity of American-made beer. Kona Brewing Co. will be hosting educational tours and tastings, so come on down!
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