Joel Vandenbrink

With leadership experience in the craft brewing and cider making industry extending 14 years, Joel Vandenbrink led Two Beers Brewing Co. and Seattle Cider Co. until recently. Establishing Two Beers Brewing Co. from his home in 2006, Joel Vandenbrink and his team pursued a “labor of love” in expanding to a 29,000-square-foot space and forging community partnerships with organizations such as The Mountaineers and Washington’s National Park Fund.

Establishing the Seattle Cider Company in 2013, Mr. Vandenbrink set out to prove that ciders did not need to be overly sweet to gain a large customer base. He secured local ingredients from sustainability-focused farmers, while developing a robust market presence in a competitive niche. In 2016, this culminated in an equity partnership with a progressive French cidery owned by agricultural growers, which has provided further expansion opportunities. He remained with the firm until 2019 as CEO and informed a pivot that included a long-term vision of exporting to markets across Asia, Europe, and Africa.

Mr. Vandenbrink maintains a strong reputation in his industry and has an interest in consulting in the areas of cider and beer fermentation and production. Active with the board of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation’s Northwest Chapter, Joel Vandenbrink has a passion for exploring the outdoors and regularly travels in his Airstream RV.