Instructor Spotlight: Derek Gallanosa

Derek Gallanosa began his career in the brewing industry as a passionate homebrewer. “The fact that you can make your own beer at home blew my mind,” he said. “I took every opportunity to make a new batch of beer at home and after a couple of years, I knew I wanted to pursue brewing as a career.” Now he has more than nine years of professional brewing experience under his belt.

While he was head brewer at San Diego’s Abnormal Beer Company, it was the city’s top ranked brewery on Untappd and one of Rate Beer's Top 100 Breweries in the World. Gallanosa is currently the head brewer/partner at Moksa Brewing Company in Rocklin, Calif., and the instructor of UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education’s course Marketing Craft Beer.

“Along my career path I have received advice and help from countless industry veterans,” he said. Through teaching, he’s able to enhance the quality of the industry by sharing what he’s learned with the next generation of brewers.

Gallanosa feels this course is particularly relevant in today’s craft beer market, which is more competitive than ever before. With more than 7,000 breweries in the country, brewers need more than just good beer to attract customers. “You need to consider marketing as a massive sales tool for your business to reach more potential customers,” he said.

 “Marketing Craft Beer teaches marketing concepts and strategies and how to apply them to the craft beer industry.” If there’s one thing he wants students to take away from his course, it’s how to identify your target market and connect your products to them.