Are you from Westchester County, New York? You should be proud of hometown hero Scott Vaccaro! A master brewer and founder of the renowned Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, Vaccaro has taken the craft brewing world by storm. From humble beginnings in his hometown, Vaccaro has become a self-made icon in the world of brewing, having learned from only the best brewing institutions in California. Now, he’s crafted his own success as a force to be reckoned with.
Scott Vaccaro is one of the most renowned brewmasters in the craft brewing industry. He is the founder and owner of Captain Lawrence Brewing Company, based in his hometown of Westchester County, N.Y., and has been in business for nearly eight years. Vaccaro began by crafting his own beer recipes within the industry, and his success in being named the top beer in the U.S. by Ratebeer in 2012 has only further solidified his well-deserved respect.
From the beginning, Vaccaro has strived to brew the best beer he could make and has taken pride in his successes. Before jumping headfirst into the craft beer industry, Vaccaro worked at some of California's top brewing institutions to learn the craft. His experience at large-scale brewing operations taught him the skills and knowledge necessary to establish and run his own brewery satisfaction.
After a brief stint studying nutrition at California Polytechnic State University, Vaccaro switched paths and re-enrolled at the American Brewers Guild in California to pursue his passion for brewing. Once there, he quickly earned certification as a Master Brewer. After graduation, he took a job at Anderson Valley Brewing Company and worked with legendary brewmaster Jeffers Richardson.
Vaccaro's time at Anderson Valley Brewing Company helped him gain the knowledge and experience necessary to make his own beer recipes. He then moved on to take a job at Lagunitas Brewing Company and later Joseph James Brewing, developing recipes and perfecting the brewing process under the guidance of their brewmasters.
After learning the craft of brewing over a decade, Vaccaro decided to take the plunge and start his own business. After rehabbing an industrial warehouse in Elmsford, N.Y., just north of his hometown of Westchester County, Vaccaro opened the doors to Captain Lawrence Brewing Company in 2006.
On the day it opened, the brewery quickly became a popular destination for local craft beer fans. Since their initial success, Vaccaro and the team at Captain Lawrence have gone on to become one of the most respected breweries in the United States, consistently putting out creative and high-quality beers.
Since its opening, Captain Lawrence has worked with an impressive list of breweries to develop new beers and collaborate on creative projects. Some of the most notable projects have been their collaborations and partnerships with large brewing corporations such as Sierra Nevada, Stone, and Lagunitas. Vaccaro has also created a few of his own beer recipes, including Hop Commander IPA, Effortless Grapefruit IPA, and Liquid Gold Belgian-style Ale.
Throughout the years, Captain Lawrence and Vaccaro have received a plethora of awards and recognition in the craft beer scene. In 2012, Ratebeer named Captain Lawrence the top brewery in the U.S., and in 2013, Vacarro was named Craft Brewer of the Year by Beer Advocate. Additionally, Vaccaro was a semi-finalist for a James Beard Award in 2014.
Not only has the brewing team won numerous awards, they have also been featured in several publications, including The New York Times and Food & Wine Magazine. Captain Lawrence beers have consistently been highly rated by beer enthusiasts, and their collaborations have been extremely popular amongst craft beer fans.
Scott Vaccaro's brewing career is a testament to the power of passion and dedication. He started from the ground up and worked his way up through the most successful brewing institutions in California to become the renowned brewmaster he is today. His success has allowed him to share his passion for craft beer with everyone, and the quality of beers from Captain Lawrence Brewing Company speaks for itself.