Beer gurus Matt McLaren (Orcas Distributing), Sean Jackson (Parkway Tavern) and Ron Swarner (Peaks & Pints) explore and celebrate the craft beer industry, community, and history in Tacoma, Washington, and surrounding Pacific Northwest region, with assistance from opinionated beer industry insiders. Engineered by Doug Mackey of Channel 253, you can hear the three India Pale Yale graduates and featured guests every Friday as they think and drink in a room completely devoid of oxygen as not to degrade the beer.
MATT MCLAREN is an Advanced Cicerone and a Sales and Brand Manager at Orcas Distributing, with industry experience that stretches back to his stint as a keg washer at Harmon Brewing as teenager. An epicurean with no reservations, McLaren emcees the podcast like he’s orchestrating a boujie farmers market meal.
SEAN JACKSON is the manager of the famed Parkway Tavern, and former brewer at E9 Brewing in Tacoma and Mudshark Brewery in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. With a Rogue Dead Guy hat on his head, and a pencil behind his ear, Sean drops F-bombs and laugh bombs while hosting some of the most popular beer festivals in Western Washington.
RON SWARNER is co-owner of Peaks & Pints, and a journalist for more than 35 years, including founding the Weekly Volcano alternative newsweekly where he wrote the New Beer Column, launched Tacoma Restaurant Week, Best of Tacoma, and food tournaments. With a voice like Grandpa Simpson, and a ridiculous lumberjack wardrobe, Ron curates the beer at Peaks, as well as runs the yearly Tournament of Beer.