We are rounding out unofficial Pizza Port Carlsbad week with a five-question interview with Melanie Pierce, the Promotions & Events Coordinator for the award-hogging North County brewpub. You may recognize Melanie from the cover story of the September issue, or from the Ladies of Local Beer issue (March 2010).
How has the response been up at Pizza Port since last weekend?
It’s been fantastic. Last year when we won, it was like tourism season had started all over again; there was a lot of hype. This year, it’s not just about the hype. There’s a real appreciation of what we’re doing. People are saying, “This is actually happening. These people are killing it!” We’ve had lots of customers come in asking which medal winners we have on tap because they really want to try them. It feels really… genuine.
What gives Pizza Port the edge?
I would have to say that’s Bagby (director of brewing operations for the Pizza Port family and head brewer for Pizza Port Carlsbad). He really takes pride in what he does and works so hard. Then there’s (owners) Gina and Vince, who started this model of a family restaurant with good beer. I don’t know how they do it – each Pizza Port is so successful, and every brewer excels at doing their own thing.
Up on stage at GABF, the brew crew all sported some pretty saucy party pants. Whose idea was that?
Bagby wears them every year. That’s his thing. Then last spring Mike Rodriguez (head brewer for The Lost Abbey) was with Bagby in Belgium and they started talking about the party pants. Mike asked him if he’d mind if he wore them to the festival. Jeff replied that he thought everyone on the crew should, so we did!
Is there any rivalry between the Pizza Port locations? Any sense of competition?
No, not really, I’d say we’re all pretty tight-knit. In sloshball and kickball tournaments though there’s definitely a rivalry. That’s a different story.
Want to give a shout out to any upcoming big events for Pizza Port?
Hoptoberfest at Pizza Port San Clemente is October 29th with more than 70 hoppy beers. We’ll have a shuttle of sorts running from Solana Beach to Carlsbad then to San Clemente and back. Our annual Strong Ale Festival is the 2nd and 3rd of December, and then the Brewbies Festival for Keep A Breast is back in February!