Our Staff

We welcome you to the Ithaca Beer Company.  We'd love to meet you at the brewery or at one of our events.  Please let us know how we're doing.  We take pride in what we do, and would like to know that we are reaching our goal of making the best beer in the Finger Lakes region.  Thanks for your support.

Sincerely,

The Staff

Dan Mitchell Owner
Hi, my name is Dan Mitchell, and I’m the founder of Ithaca Beer Company. For the past ten years we have been working to create the best brewery in the Finger Lakes region. I've lived in Ithaca for 15 years now. I've been around the Finger Lakes since I was 5, spending every summer on Keuka Lake, living in Penn Yan for two years, and eventually going to and graduating from Cornell. There is no better place to live.

I set out to build a craft-brewery to the Finger Lakes region that its residents would be proud of. That is my goal. Please help me to reach my goal by letting me know how we're doing.

Thanks, and Cheers!

Jeff O'Neil Executive Brewer

"Chief" first joined us in 2002 after learning the trade on the West Coast at award-winning Bay Area breweries including Drake's and Gordon Biersch.  An Upstate NY native and admitted "hophead,"  he does most of our brewing and cellar-work.  When he's not mashing in or raking out, he's busy as a father of five(one son, two dogs, one cat), husband and handyman.  Drop him a line. 

Eric "Hutch" Kugeman Brewer
Description Coming Soon!

Amanda McGonigal Office Manager
Known by some as "Kenya(as in can-ya do this or that)," and "Commander," by others, Amanda is the central artery for Ithaca Beer. Very little transpires at the brewery without passing through Amanda!  In addition to Office Manager, Amanda also serves as the company psychologist - hence her third nickname "Lucy" from the Peanuts Gang -  and offers a sympathetic ear to all. 

Prior to joining the Ithaca Beer crew in 2006, Amanda worked for 18 years with Purity Ice Creamery.  Amanda loves yogurt, tv and movie comedies.  When she's not working at the brewery, Amanda is busy keeping up with her two pre-teen daughters, husband, and home life in Lodi, NY. 

Mike Benz Tasting Room Manager
"Benz," as he is known around Ithaca Beer is a New York native, who came to Ithaca four years back on a wine tour...and never left.  Mike was summoned to work at Ithaca Beer in February 2008 as he was one of our frequent customers and well-known in these parts as a beer-enthusiast. 

Allison Graffin Marketing Director
Allison grew up out west, in Portland, Oregon and gradually made her journey east with a short layover in Wisconsin for college.  She has a background in advertising and marketing, and has worked for the last couple years as a freelance consultant, which was how she met Dan and Mari Mitchell...and eventually she came to work at Ithaca Beer in the Summer of 2008.  Allison works on all things under the advertising and marketing umbrella from graphic design to maintaining the website and newsletter to planning the Brew Fest and other special events...you name it! 

In her free time, she enjoys traveling with her husband, teaching pottery at the Cornell Ceramics Studio, gardening, and collecting shoes.

Bill Janisko Facilities Manager
We are excited to announce Bill J's triumphant return to Ithaca Beer!  After a short stint in construction, Bill missed the Ithaca Beer family comraderie and hijinx too much and returned to manage all the heavy machinery out back.  When Bill is not working out back, he is busy keeping up with his wife Patina, 4 year-old son Dylan, and newborn son Tanner.   

Danny Garner Production
Danny is a North Carolina transplant who joined our team in June 2006.  He recently married the love of his life, Lin, a native New Yorker.  Together the share 5 grown children and 6 grand children.  Danny brings a wealth of warehousing and forklift experience as well as an extensive collection of vintage tunes that keeps the bottling line hoppin'. 

Chances are that when you purchase Ithaca Beer or Soda, Danny packaged it.  As the self-proclaimed, "old man" of the group he says "the beer kids keep him feeling young at heart, and teach him a thing or two every once in a while."

Ryan Wibby Production
Ryan (aka Wibby, aka World Wide Wib) first worked at Ithaca Beer in the Tasting Room over the summer in 2007.  After spending over a year immersed in the Pennsylvania beer culture working at the Flying Fish Brewing Co. and Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant, Ryan returned to Ithaca Beer in 2009 to join our production crew.

Originally from Boulder, CO, he is an Ithaca College graduate. Ryan is excited to be back in Ithaca, where Flower Power is born.  When Ryan is not working he enjoys Lake Cayuga and the many gorges in Tompkins County.

Marc Schulz Upstate NY Sales Representative
Self professed beer geek, I come to Ithaca Beer with 15 years experience in the brewing industry. I have spent time at the Lake Placid Pub and Brewery, the Boston Beer Company, managed a restaurant or two and have recently become a Certified Cicerone Beer Server. All said and done, I LIVE  and BREATHE CRAFT BEER! I am also a locavore and believe in supporting local farms, growers, restaurants, cheese makers, bakers and candlestick makers.
 
I am welded at the side of my soul mate, Dawn and forever bonded to the souls of the two coolest kids on the planet. When I am not working, I am watching the sports team from my general area kick the team for your general area's (bad word)!!

Eric VanZile Manhattan Sales Representative
Eric our elusive sales representative, you never know where he'll turn up next.  He travels to all the different territories where Ithaca Beer is available helping to promote our fine selection of brews and spreading the spirit of the Finger Lakes.  Eric is always working to help everyone experience the Ithaca Beer lineup.  On the rare occasion when he isn't out on the road he lives in Newfield, NY with his three pit bulls.

Stop by for a visit!

We are located at the edge of town on Elmira Rd (also called Rt. 13) in Ithaca, NY, just South of Buttermilk Falls.

Summer Store Hours:
Sun. - Thurs.: 11am - 6pm

Fri. and Sat.: 11am - 7pm

Complimentary beer tastings available daily

Free brewery tours available:
Saturdays & Sundays at the top of every hour.