Meet Eamon McCarthy, Eamon is Perrin Brewing’s residential Hoses and High Lows expert. Some say he is the first high low driver to ever pull off the no look, back up though the barrel populated cellar, and somehow not hit anything, maneuver. I have witnessed it and it is truly impressive how fast he can no look back up through the busy brewery. It is truly an impressive feat.
Eamon, whose nickname around the brewery is Eamo, came to Perrin Brewing after a three-year stretch at New Holland Brewing Company where he came to know other Perrin employees, Director of Brewing John Stewart, Logistics man Adam LeClaire, and Head Brewer Bill VanEenenaam. Eamon started out as a high low driving specialist and quickly transferred into cellar man extraordinaire. He’s been changing the cella’ game ever since. When asked about his hobbies, he replied with “My hobbies are pretty simple. I like sterile filters, dry hopping, grape fruiting beer and CIPS. I also like running and sleeping but mostly the cellar work”.
Eamon is not joking around when he says running is his hobby. Eamon adores running so much that he runs to and from work. He owns a car but prefers the old mode of transportation. His two good legs. You may be saying to yourself, ‘well running to and from work sounds good. That is very healthy. I wish I could run to work and back, but I just live too far away.’ Eamo the spawn of Hermes himself, doesn’t say that. He runs 8.3 miles to the brewery and 8.3 miles’ home from the brewery, for a grand total of just over 16.5 miles. That is more than a 25K every day. Eamon runs more than the 5/3 Riverbank run on a daily basis.
He attended Grand Valley State University’s Hospitality and Tourism Management program. Then moved south to run the city of Chicago, literally. Eamon went down to Chicago to manage and run a suite at Wrigley Field for a few years. Eamon said that if he was not in the beer business he would mostly be back in the hospitality or restaurant business. “I got into brewing because it’s a labor of love. I love beer and enjoy working to make something that I love. Not many people can say that about their profession. Not only am I able to work and create something I am passionate about, but I also get to make something that other people love to enjoy. It is truly nice”.
If you think you could keep pace with Eamon “The Running Man” McCarthy, the best way for you to find him is to lace up and start running. Or, post up at Fratellis, on the Westside. He stops in after every run for a nice slice of pizza. Wait there until you see a running man in a reflective jacket. Director of Brewing, John Stewart bought him a beautiful reflective jacket due to the fact that every brewer at Perrin has almost hit Eamon with their cars on the way to work. Eamon is single and ready to mingle, you just need to catch him first.
Here are some Eamon fast facts that will help jump start your relationship:
Favorite beer on tap: Lil’ Griz
All-time favorite Perrin beer: Roeselare
First legal beer: Guinness
Current favorite non-Perrin beer: Stone’s Xocoveza
Favorite movie: I Heart Huckabees
Favorite radio station: Selena Gomez station on Pandora
Favorite vacation destination: Toronto, Canada
Sports team: Die hard Detroit Lions fan
Favorite West Michigan place to drink: Logan’s Alley
Eamon’s favorite lunch item is the Hummus Platter, but when time does not allow him food, he likes to drink a No Problems, Perrin’s session IPA.
There you have it; you have now met Eamon “The Running Man” McCarthy.