Hello readers, meet John Binder, co-founder of the Venice Duck Brewery!

John, a 19 year veteran bartender at James’ Beach, says his love for good beer started with drinking Sierra Nevada while getting a history degree at UCSB.

The actual plan to launch a beer making operation hatched in 2003 at Hal’s bar where John met his business partner Christian Warren. Ten years later VDB kicked out its first batches in 2013.   Starting with a modest 20 bar account, VDB  was quickly picked up by So. Cal liquor distribution giant Southern Spirits.

Now widely recognized as one of the areas best microbreweries, VDB offers three brews:   Dog Town Duck is their IPA, Stoner Duck is their brown ale, and Lucky Duck is their wheat beer.

When John is not slanging drinks in one fashion or another, he likes snowboarding, listening to Pearl Jam, hanging with his daughters ( Sophia, 11 and Gioanna, 7) and taking tandem bike rides through Venice.

If you have not tried any of VDB offerings, you should.  Roll by James Beach in the evenings and have the man himself pour you cold draft of Dog Town Duck!

 

Priest John at James Beach & Canal Club Annual Halloween party

John and his beautiful family at the 1st Annual Venice Art Crawl event in 2010.

John’s partner Christian Warren (center right)

You can find the duck at Canal Club, Barlo Kitchen and Cocktails, James’ Beach, Danny’s, High Rooftop Lounge, Simmzy’s, and Tony P’s Dockside Grill!  Click here to find additional duck locations!