City Brew Tours offers unforgettable all-inclusive tours and beer-focused experiences in some of the best beer cities throughout North America. With over a decade of experience, City Brew Tours has created the ultimate craft beer experience that blends history, beer knowledge, transportation, and great food with unrivaled access to an area’s top breweries and their beer.
Our mission is to be the leading curator of craft beer experiences for visitors, locals, and the community as both an ambassador and an advocate for the brewing industry.
Where we began
City Brew Tours was founded in Burlington, Vermont in 2008 by Chad Brodsky, a college kid who had fallen in love with craft beer while studying in Vienna. Thirsting for more, he returned home and enrolled in the University of Vermont’s “Beer Making 101” class. Fortunately, Chad quickly realized he wasn’t cut out to brew beer. Instead he bought a used church van, put on his lederhosen, and set off to spread the gospel of craft beer.
Chad’s timing was perfect. MSNBC had recently pronounced Burlington the fourth best beer city in the world, and Americans were starting to get a taste for craft beer. Vermont Pub and Brewery founder, Greg Noonan, was the first to open his doors to the new business, and Burlington Brew Tours was born. At the tender age of 21, Chad became the first to establish a brewery tour company on the East Coast.
Burlington Brew Tours became well known for its unique tours led by beer geeks who doubled as designated drivers. By 2012 Chad had perfected his business model. He left his full-time job in finance and opened a second location in Boston. With tours running in two cities, Chad changed the company’s name to “City Brew Tours” and set off to add more locations.
By the end of 2017, Chad was juggling operations in five cities and needed help. Enter Barry Hansen, Jr., a professional brewer and part time City Brew Tours beer guide who was instrumental in launching operations in Washington, DC a couple years prior. Barry grew into the role of COO, became co-owner and used his background in leadership, biotechnology and the brewing industry to streamline logistics and expand the company.
With Barry on board, City Brew Tours grew quickly. The company opened three new locations and launched a franchising program in a span of just two years.
As of September 2021, City Brew Tours operates in 14 cities and continues to expand. City Brew Tours jumped to the West Coast in November, 2019, when it acquired a majority stake in BREWVANA, a brewery tour company in Portland, Oregon. In 2021 CBT opened three new locations: Des Moines, I.A. and two franchises in North Carolina, one in Charlotte, the other in Raleigh.
Meet the Team
Chad Brodsky: Founder & CEO – Certified Cicerone®
Chad has always been an entrepreneur. As a child, he started businesses that ranged from convincing his peers to buy other people’s business cards to shoveling his neighbors’ driveways. Chad decided to buy his brother a Mr. Beer kit for his birthday as he thought it would be a great brother bonding experience. The first beer they ever brewed was a Nut Brown Ale, which didn’t turn out great. Between home brewing with his brother and spending a semester studying in Austria, Chad’s passion and excitement for flavorful beer grew immensely. Still not knowing much about craft beer except that he loved drinking it, he enrolled in “Beer Making 101”, an elective which was offered at University of Vermont. After graduating, Chad took a job as a Financial Analyst at a local bank but realized his entrepreneurial spirit was stifled. In 2012, Chad decided to leave his finance job and move to Boston to focus on growing CBT full time. It was in Boston that Chad met his wife, Liana. When not beer touring, Chad enjoys taking his dog, Oliver, to the park, traveling, and trying new types of food.
Chad believes the best way for a person to learn is through experiential education, which is what City Brew Tours is all about! Chad is always brainstorming new ideas on how to spread the gospel of craft beer to masses.
Favorite Beers: Duchess de Bourgogne, Samuel Adams Boston Lager, Lost Nation Brewing – Gose, and any delicious Lactose IPA.
Barry Hansen: Chief Operating Officer
Barry was a biomedical engineer when he decided to travel all the way to Australia for grad school. Coupling a Master’s in biotechnology and a Master’s in leadership, his true passion boomed upon return to the US driving him to start brewing professionally in New York followed by Washington, DC. As a part-time beer guide, while brewing in DC, Barry quickly saw the unique potential of CBT. He is now the company’s COO, and a founding board member of the Craft Beverage Tour Operators Association, on a self-driven ever-evolving quest: to be the top curator of craft beer experiences in the world.
Favorite Beers: Firestone Walker – Wookey Jack, Port City Brewing – Ways and Means, Jack’s Abby – Hoponius Union, and pretty much anything made by RaR.
Brian Hatheway: Chief Personnel Officer
Brian is a lifelong native of Pittsburgh and has been homebrewing since 2011. He loves everything about beer, especially the brewing process. In his free time, he enjoys watching TV series & movies and exploring the outdoors. He also loves hearing a good yinzer accent.
Favorite Beers: Hill Farmstead Poetica #3, Strange Roots Concord Koel-Aid, Eleventh Hour Archer, and Black Project Habu
Valerie Cedrone: Personnel Specialist
Valerie has lived all over Massachusetts, from a bustling Boston suburb to a tiny, rural hilltown in western Massachusetts and many places in between. An explorer at heart, Valerie soon found that visiting local breweries was a great way to learn more about a place and the community that enriches it. Outside of work, Valerie can be found hiking and camping in the beautiful New England forests, trying new local restaurants and breweries, or curling up on the couch with a good book.
Her favorite beers are whatever’s local, which for now is: Berkshire Brewing Company – Irish Red Ale, Northampton Brewery – Northampton Pale Ale, and Progression Brewing – Twist & Stout
Isaac Bell: Business Development Manager
Isaac is a citizen of the world but calls Maryland home. With a variety of accolades in graphic design, his thirst was never quenched. He quickly realized that being born with a beard was no medical mistake or miracle, just that he was destined for something beer related. Taking on the role of VP of Business Development, Isaac realized his calling was found, and now wants to bring a City Brew Tour to every city in the US!
Favorite Beers: Hellbender – Double Chazzwazzer, Green Man Brewery – Trickster IPA, Oliver Brewing Company – Burn the Candle & Creator/Destroyer.
Todd Summers: Sales Manager
Todd’s favorite joke about his current job is that after getting his Master’s in clinical psychology he found a different cure for what ales you. Starting as a private event coordinator, his love for selling unforgettable events blossomed. Now serving as our sales manager, his goal is for everyone to experience one of our events. A native Chicagoan, Todd calls Vermont home where he can be found skiing, golfing, and waiting in line to buy beer with his wife and dogs Olive and Earl.
Favorite Beers: Fiddlehead – IPA, Foley Brothers – Pieces of Eight, Foam Brewers – Retrovertigo
Matt LaRosa: Sales & Development Specialist
Matt never met a beer he didn’t like. He developed a deep knowledge of the industry and a love for the culture and community surrounding beer while working as a sales representative for a beer distributor in the North Shore of Massachusetts. He joined the CBT team to launch our wholesale business and help clients create unforgettable moments during our craft beer experiences. In his spare time, you will find him tearing up the ski slopes, paddling on the closest body of water, or on the hunt for new beers and breweries wherever he travels.
Favorite Beers: Foam – Experimental Jet Set, Allagash – White, Founders – Breakfast Stout
Corrie Purvis: Private Sales Coordinator
Corrie was born and raised in Philadelphia, and, after traveling the world, moved back to her beloved city. After graduating college, Corrie worked as an Au Pair in Munich, Germany, where she developed an affinity for German beers and spent many of her weekends at various Bavarian Bierfests (adorned in a traditional dirndl, of course). Upon her return to the US, she then moved into the realm of sales at an international tour company. Pairing her love of travel with beer, Corrie always tries to drink local, wherever in the world she may be.
Favorite beers: Love City – Eraserhood, Avery – White Rascal, Herzoglich Bayerisches Brauhaus Tegernsee – Tegernseer Hell
Emily Cacchione: Private Sales Coordinator
Currently based in her hometown of Erie, PA, Emily has worked in the travel and tourism industry for the last 5 years, originating in international travel sales. She joined CBT to continue to share her love of planning the perfect trip, and is excited to discover new beers and breweries through CBT’s network. Outside of work, Emily enjoys concerts, traveling, traveling for concerts, and going to the dog park with her pup, Leo.
Favorite beers: Lavery Brewing – Gummi, Erie Brewing Co. – Cherry Bomb, Yards – Pynk
Jill Zahareas: Private Sales Coordinator
Jill has worked in the food and beverage industry for 20 years starting off as a bartender pouring beer to coordinating large scale client events. She has a passion for great food and drink and the memories those experiences create. She joined CBT to increase her knowledge of craft beers and bring her love of hospitality into the virtual event world. Outside of work she enjoys live music, cooking, and spending time with family!
Favorite Beers: Scarlet Lane – Dorian Stout, Allagash – White, 21st Amendment – Hell or High Watermelon
Julie Walker: Experiences Manager
Julie is a writer, reader, gamer, homebrewer, baker, traveler, proud geek, and community builder based out of the Raleigh, North Carolina area. She has been a homebrewer for almost 12 years and is a Certified Beer Server through the Cicerone® program. After joining City Brew Tours as a Tour Operations Coordinator in 2019, she is now bridging her passion for craft beer with her professional skills to manage both their in-person and online events, and support their team of Unforgettable Hosts and Tour Operations Coordinators. You can usually find her studying beer, posting on her beerstagram, playing games – including ones with 20-sided dice – or going on adventures with her family.
Favorite Beers: Ommegang – Hennepin Saison, Heavy Seas – Winter Storm ESB, 21st Amendment – Blood Orange IPA, and anything that tastes like a campfire.
Molly Sutter: Tour Operations Coordinator
Molly was born and raised in the south suburbs of Chicago and made her way to the ‘Burgh in 2018. After claiming she didn’t like beer all through college, that changed when tending bar at the local craft beer joint and she hasn’t looked back. Molly has worked with many breweries between both Chicago and Pittsburgh, and she believes the scene in Pittsburgh can’t be matched. When not enjoying a hop-forward beverage, she can be found hanging with her dog and 3 cats or hosting a “friendly” game night.
Favorite Beers: Three Floyds – Zombie Dust, Grist House – Kaboom Candy, and Voodoo – Lacto-Kooler
AJ Snapp: Tour Operations Coordinator
AJ originally joined CBT in 2018 as a tour guide in Philly. As a music teacher and a competitive homebrewer, he brought a focus on education and the brewing process from the classroom to the brew tour van. During the pandemic, he transitioned to an online Live Homebrew Experience guide, teaching people the joys of homebrewing from his basement brewery. (Yes, AJ has a brewery set up in his basement.) After a decade in the classroom, AJ is now bringing his expertise in education to us here coordinating tours in Philly, New York, Boston, and Burlington VT.
His favorite beers change with the season, but he’ll never turn down a well-hopped IPA, a complex stout, or an expertly crafted sour.
Chris Johnson: Customer Success Manager
Chris discovered craft beer when he bellied up to an Amherst bar and took a chance on a Pete’s Wicked Ale while attending Zoomass in the early 1990’s. He’s been hooked ever since. Chris brings with him an extensive customer service and sales background that he utilizes to provide exceptional, white-glove service to our guests. When he’s not doing that, a self-professed Boston Sports fanatic, he can be found in Millbury enjoying a New England IPA while savoring the golden age of Boston sports. This recent success has allowed him to silence the sports lambs that scarred his childhood.
Favorite Beers: Tree House – Julius, Greater Good – Pulp, and Cold Harbor – Indian Summer.
Kate Hill: Customer Success Specialist
Kate was born and raised in Texas. Moving often and attending 22 schools growing up has made her a master of being comfortable wherever she is. Currently, that is Boise, Idaho. She has been a part of the Food & Beverage industry for most of the past 25 years, but has sprinkled in a few odd jobs from time to time such as bookkeeper, Medicaid biller, and in-school suspension teacher. Kate loves how all her previous experiences have led her to the Customer Service role at CBT. She enjoys helping people in any way possible and leaving them with a smile on their face. Outside of work she enjoys being on the water, gardening, reading, and seeing live music and plays.
Taylor McCune: Marketing Manager
Taylor grew up in the food and beverage industry and jumped into the world of craft beer as soon as she was legally able to. After earning her degree from NC State – and spending many hours drinking from the taps at Flying Saucer Draught Emporium – Taylor moved back home to Beaufort, North Carolina. She has worked in journalism and marketing and is especially fond of the time she spent developing and managing a craft beer program for a local restaurant. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, thrifting, going out in the boat and drinking beer at the neighborhood pub.
Favorite Beers: Taylor likes to drink whatever is local to her current location. At home, she likes just about anything by Fishtowne Brew House.
Brian Franzoni: Digital Marketing Coordinator
Brian is a record collector, movie lover, photographer, gamer, avid Baltimore Ravens fan, and a proud husband and father. He is based out of Pittsburgh, PA. Brian fell in love with craft beer in college, hunting down desired brews and making whatever drive necessary to get them. He began curating his travels around popular brewery cities. He went to Burlington, VT on his engagement trip and Portland, OR for his Bachelor Party. You can find him drinking Hazy brews on his deck, surrounded by family and friends, playing corn hole, and listening to good music.
Favorite Beers: Anything by Helltown Brewery and Insurrection Aleworks
Kate Hellner: Content Marketing Associate
A native Michigander, Kate has lived and worked in multiple states and countries before boomeranging back to Northern Michigan. Denali Brewing Company was her gateway into craft beer, and she believes there is nothing more cathartic than cracking open a cold one while surrounded by nature. She loves to travel, write, drink beer, and watch the same six tv shows over and over.
Favorite beers: Snowbank Brewing – Cranknbrew, Horse and Dragon – Sad Panda, and New Belgium’s La Folie
Thom Roholt: Fulfillment Manager
Thom fell in love with Craft Beer while on a date in 1998. The story is one to be heard while on tour with him, but in the two decades since, he’s transformed that passion into a quest, a film, and finally a career. On August 15, 2015, he was part of a five-person team that set the record of going to 77 breweries in one day. The feat was chronicled on Twitter, was later made into a documentary called PDX: Brew City, and eventually led to this job.
Thom’s favorite beer is the one in front of him. He rarely drinks the same beer twice, but if he’s going back to the well it’s usually for a Deschutes Streaking the Quad, a pFriem IPA or a Four Play from Upright Brewing.
Pete Commo: Inventory Control Coordinator
Pete was born and raised in Vermont. He started in the beverage industry in the early 90s with a classic morning favorite, that’s right… Coffee! Being a connoisseur of morning beverages, he also has an affinity for after-hours beverages, and Vermont is a great place to be as it is home to many fine craft breweries. For the next chapter in his career it really made sense that it be beer related. In his spare time, Pete enjoys riding his Harley, spending time at camp, on the water and time with his friends, family, children and grandchildren.
Favorite Beers: Hopped to Trot – Stone Corral, Phaze – Four Quarters, Sugarhouse IPA – Lawson’s Finest Liquids and, when visiting his hometown favorite watering hole “The Reservoir,” he also enjoys a few ice cold PBR’s from his mug club stein while chatting with his longtime friends.
Dorian Allen: Washington Warehouse Lead
Dorian grew up in Houston T.X., so if it wasn’t Lonestar or Budweiser it wasn’t beer. He stumbled across craft beer on a camping trip in 2012 and hasn’t looked back since. A thrill seeking outdoorsman who may or may not be the biggest Flash fan in the multiverse is always up for a challenge!
Favorite Beer: Seven Brides – Hazelbock, Backwoods – Dreamsicle, and 54-40 – Tusken Sunrise
Casey Dulcos: Vermont Warehouse Lead
Casey is a born and raised Vermonter who fell in love with craft beer at the crisp age of 21 years old after discovering a beautiful brewery native to Vermont called Von Trapp Bierhall. When Casey isn’t in the warehouse with his team fulfilling orders, you can most likely find him partaking in brewery hops with his friends, watching any sporting event (while drinking beer of course) or flying up in a Cessna 172. Casey’s favorite hobby is to go flying all around New England. He grew up with a strong passion for airplanes and later in life, grew a passion for craft beer.
Favorite Beers: Von Trapp – Kölsch, Allagash – White, and Switchback – Switchback Ale