1 of 3
Luci Legaspi: Taproom Manager, Virginia Beer Company
2 of 3
Madeline McMahon: Taproom Manager, Precarious Beer Hall
Photo courtesy Corey Miller Photo
3 of 3
Valerie Zangardi: Taproom Manager, Alewerks L.A.B.
Photo courtesy Jeff Phillips
Luci Legaspi: Taproom Manager, Virginia Beer Company
Chances are if you’ve tugged open the doors leading into the taproom of Virginia Beer Company, you’ve encountered the bubbly Luci Legaspi. The 28-year-old taproom manager, who admits her first beer was a Bud Light, now possesses a sophisticated palate backed by a bar boasting 16 taps with everything from ales to IPAs flowing through the lines to prove it.
“There is so much about craft beers that I love,” she said, eluding to the educational and social aspects being amongst her favorites.
“It’s fun to teach people about beer,” she said, smiling widely. “When we see someone order a flight, we realize they want to try everything. We see it as an opportunity to convert them to craft beer, but we have to read how much people care to know and give them as much information as they want to accept.”
She also takes pride in her role in helping make Virginia Beer Company a community gathering place—complete with food trucks, acoustic music and charitable events.
“I love that this is where people come when they want to celebrate their birthday. I love that this is where they come when they want to have their rehearsal dinner. That community aspect is huge for us,” she stated.
“Beer, people, purpose—that’s what we’re about.”
Madeline McMahon: Taproom Manager, Precarious Beer Hall
When Madeline McMahon posted an Amber Ox-related photo to Instagram in late 2016, she had no idea the relationship would become this #instagood.
“I was walking down Prince George Street, and I saw the guts of Amber Ox. I posted in my story saying I was bummed out I was going to miss the grand opening,” said McMahon, who was Las Vegas-bound during the restaurant’s final phase of construction.
Amber Ox responded to McMahon’s post, inviting her to visit before her relocation. While she was in Las Vegas, the company began releasing its beer in crowlers—32-ounce “can-growlers” —and those inside recalled McMahon’s sizable Instagram following. They offered her an opportunity to experience the beer, shipping her “three crowlers, a couple of shirts and a note.”
“It was flattering,” said McMahon, who’s Instagram following is now nearly 12,000. “I was excited to get beer from Virginia from a company who puts a lot into its outreach marketing.”
Upon returning to Hampton Roads, she again took to Instagram asking followers if they thought she should get a job working with beer. The Precarious Beer Project responded by inviting her to apply for its Taproom Manager position at the new Precarious Beer Hall.
“I was blown away,” said McMahon.
Now at the helm, she believes the atmosphere at Precarious will keep people inside the doors. From the live music and Electric Circus Taco Bar to its coin-op arcade games and 16 Precarious Beers on tap, there’s something for everyone. Most interesting of all, Precarious doesn’t have a flagship beer.
“That means there’s something new to look forward to every time you come in,” she said.
McMahon especially loves helping people with preconceived notions explore different styles of beer.
“If I can get a couple minutes of your time, you’re going to walk out with a bunch of beer styles you had no idea you liked.”
Valerie Zangardi: Taproom Manager, Alewerks L.A.B.
When Valerie Zangardi’s beer loving brother-in-law introduced her to Alewerks, she was hooked.
“This is the kind of atmosphere I wanted to be in,” said Zangardi, a vocalist and performer at Busch Gardens prior to becoming the Alewerks Little Auxiliary Brewery (LAB) taproom manager.
The San Diego native recalls trying the “super hoppy stuff” from Stone and Arrogant Bastard, two SoCal breweries, but admits, “My taste buds were not sophisticated back then. Now, I’ll drink anything.”
She credits the extensive training she got waiting tables at The Smith in New York City’s East Village to her ability to run a taproom.
“As tough as that was, I learned a lot about food and beverage and service. They had super high standards, and they curated us to be able to work in any environment,” she said.
Zangardi thrives on sharing her beer knowledge with taproom guests who pop in while shopping the Premium Outlets.
“What’s neat about this location is we get a lot of people who aren’t craft beer drinkers, or beer drinkers in general, and we get to educate them,” she said, beaming. “Then they go home and when they come back, they say, ‘We told all of our friends.’ It’s a unique opportunity.”
Though she’s not the first woman to helm an Alewerks taproom, she’s proud to be a part of that legacy.
“There have been a couple of female taproom managers in Alewerks history,” she said. “We’re all certified Cicerone beer servers and there is a sense of satisfaction when people realize that
I don’t just work for a brewery, but I do know what I’m talking about and continue to learn and enjoy sharing that knowledge.”