Meet the Team: Head Brewer, Andy Johnson

At DBco, we love supporting our team in their career growth and are so happy to announce a recent promotion on our team. Since he started on our team over 3 years ago as Shift Brewer, Andy Johnson has moved into the Head Brewer role here at Dorchester Brewing, which means that he oversees the entire brewing process from start to finish here at DBco. Thanks to Andy’s passion for brewing the best beer possible, you get to enjoy the highest quality beer!
Tell us a little bit about yourself!
I grew up in Connecticut and moved up here to Boston three years ago to work here at DBCo. I like to go to metal shows and hang out with my cats (Brie and Hermione) on the weekend.
How did you get into craft beer?
When I was younger, I found a homebrew store called Maltose Express near where I lived in CT. I became obsessed with homebrewing and went brewery to brewery trying to volunteer to work. Eventually I got in, started working and learned the ropes all about brewing!
What is your role at DBco?
Currently I have been at DBCo for just over three years, most of that time as a Shift Brewer. Now as Head Brewer, my job consists of making DBCo recipes, helping contract partners scale their recipes, sourcing and ordering ingredients, and focusing on quality, consistency, and long term goals.
What do you like best about the industry?
What I love about the brewing industry is the constant evolution of trying to make the best product you can and also the people in the industry!
What’s your favorite beer to brew? What about to drink?
I love brewing Neponset Gold because its simple and I have a lot of pride for that being our main flagship. Recently I have been drinking a lot of Forever O.F.D.
Do you have any advice for brewers just starting out?
Honestly it’s just go with the flow and hard work. The best way to get experience is to move up internally with breweries that want to invest in reliable people who care.
Favorite part of your job?
My favorite part of my job is being able to have a say in our quality and the direction of the business. I think DBCo is going to have a really cool future with the team and goals we have in place today. I’m really excited and looking forward to the future!
Favorite DBco beer?
It’s very hard to commit to just one style but it would definitely be something German. The DBCo Dunkel is one of my favorite beers ever.
Favorite M&M BBQ menu item?
The Newmarket Square is my favorite but recently I’ve been ordering fries and drowning them in hot sauce.
What’s coming up next for DBco beers?
We have a cool all MA ingredient lager coming out soon. We have a crazy peppermint mocha stout planned for December that will be fun.