Dave McLean

Co-Founder, Admiral Maltings | Alameda, CA

Dave McLean is a co-founder of Admiral Maltings in Alameda, CA which partners with California farmers to source quality grain and produce exceptional, hand-crafted malt. Admiral’s malt not only helps brewers make great beer, but it enables them to operate more sustainably and to deepen their connection with local agriculture. Prior to starting Admiral Maltings, Dave founded San Francisco’s Magnolia Brewing Company in 1997 and operated it until 2017. Magnolia’s original Haight Ashbury location was one of the first breweries in the country to combine locally sourced, farm-to-table food with its brewing program and is considered one of the first gastropubs in the United States. Dave also opened Alembic Bar in 2006, one of San Francisco’s first craft cocktail bars, also known for an eclectic and inventive food program. Magnolia opened a second location in 2014, a production brewery and BBQ restaurant, Smokestack, with a focus on smoked meats, whole animal butchery and craft cocktails in addition to beer. Dave has been in the beer industry since 1994 after completing the Master Brewers Program at UC Davis. He has been active throughout the Bay Area beer and food communities, having co-founded the San Francisco Brewers Guild (now Bay Area Brewers Guild) and San Francisco Beer Week along with various other roles organizing or producing events that promote the Bay Area’s good food movement and craft beverage. @admiralmaltings