Veteran beer slinger Val Guagliardo just landed a job as Beer & Events Manager at the High Dive, Bay Park’s thoroughbred craft beer bar. Her craft beer resume is deep; she worked behind the bar of Ballast Point Old Grove, Ciro’s Pizzeria (now Crushed), Amplified Ale Works, Rough Draft Brewing Co., and Societe Brewing Co.
During her time at Societe, she earned her Certified Cicerone accreditation – beer’s parallel to wine’s Sommelier level. “It was really intense, but so much fun. I ended up falling in love with beer all over again the more I learned,” she said. “When I heard the news I’d passed the exam, I was so excited I actually crashed my car,” she said.
Thankfully, the crash was minor and everyone was fine. After Societe, Val took some time off to help plan no less than three weddings for friends. She visited Oregon with boyfriend Brett Luchesi (Lead Distiller at Ballast Point). During those few months, High Dive proprietress Ingrid Cherney reached out and offered her a job, and Val accepted.
Val’s stoked to be back in the San Diego beer scene, curating the ‘Dive’s tap list and planning upcoming events. April 2015 will see the launch of the Tiki Tuesday Industry Day, geared specifically for those who work serving beer over the weekend, and the continuation of the bar’s signature, monthly, women-centric beer pairing dinner: Chicks For Beer. This month’s Chicks For Beer event will feature Firestone Walker beer on April 21. And if you’re in the area tonight, stop by for the IWCBD tap takeover: four beers created on International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day on March 8 get tapped at 6 p.m.