With decades of experience and success in the craft beer industry, David Logsdon has taken a more humble approach with his recent launch, Logsdon Farmhouse Ales. Drawing on his extensive knowledge, Logsdon has eschewed an ambitious launch and instead is opting to keep the operation small and manageable. As he moves forward with arguably his most ambitious endeavor yet, it will be fascinating to see how Logsdon balances the delicate balance of his business acumen and his quest for excellence when it comes to creating his beer.
For more than 30 years, David Logsdon has been a major figure in the craft beer industry. As the founding brewmaster of Full Sail Brewing, and the founder and longtime head of Wyeast Laboratories, Logsdon carries a huge footprint in the Pacific Northwest. But with his recently launched Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, Logsdon has made a conscious effort to downscale and ensure that the small-scale brewery remains that way.
Logsdon was born in The Dalles, Oregon. To pursue his dream of becoming a beer brewer, he attended the Siebel Institute of Technology in Chicago. After obtaining a degree in brewing technology, he moved to the Pacific Northwest and began his long distinguished career in the craft beer industry.
With his education and brewery experience, Logsdon was able to make an instant impact in the brewing industry. In 1987, Logsdon helped found Full Sail Brewing in Hood River, Oregon, where he served as brewmaster.
At the time, Full Sail was one of the smallest, independently-owned brewing companies in the United States. But through Logsdon's passion for craft beer and his skill as a brewer, Full Sail flourished, becoming one of the most successful craft breweries and launching Logsdon's career.
Now in its second decade of business, Full Sail has become synonymous with craft beer and has won many awards for its unique portfolio of beers. When Logsdon left to pursue his own venture back in 2005, he left the brewery in the capable hands of Jamie Emmerson, who is now the longest-serving brewmaster in the company's history.
In 1985, Logsdon also founded Wyeast Laboratories, another major contributor to the craft beer industry. Wyeast Laboratories is a supplier of malts, yeasts and hop products for brewers, and a household name in craft brewing — the company itself is a major advocate of craft beer.
Logsdon Farmhouse Ales was released in 2013, with a mission to “celebrate the heritage of brewing in the Pacific Northwest and beyond.” As a nod to his European heritage and Oregon roots, Logsdon focuses on using local, organic ingredients for his handcrafted beer.
At Logsdon Farmhouse Ales, Logsdon personally creates every brew, and with his roots in artisanal beer, his products are sought by craft beer enthusiasts around the globe. However, Logsdon doesn’t want the brewery to become a massive operation.
On the contrary, Logsdon Farmhouse Ales operates with a “small is beautiful” philosophy, so all of its beer is brewed in small batches and distributed regionally. Today, Logsdon’s majority shareholder, Ben Tilley, is working to ensure that the brewery remains a small-scale operation.
Logsdon’s dedication and reputation as a master craft beer brewer have preceded him into Logsdon Farmhouse Ales. This past June, Logsdon Farmhouse Ales won the Best Mead & Cider award at the 2019 Oregon Beer Awards, the fifth year in a row Logsdon has won gold in that category.
Throughout his distinguished career, Logsdon has earned the respect and admiration of both beer enthusiasts and brewers. As one of the earliest and most successful craft beer entrepreneurs in the Pacific Northwest, Logsdon has continuously sought to make a lasting impact by striving for excellence with his beer. And regardless of where his career takes him, Logsdon will always be a craft beer pioneer.