About Tacoma Beer Week

Z is the erstwhile leader of Tacoma Beer Week. Having founded TBW in 2014, 2024 will be Z's farewell voyage. They've spent years gathering a clutch team of industry professionals to take up the flag, and the team is now perfected. And the future looks vibrant!

Z has been a quiet force behind the TBW organization. Not a fan of publicity, they've kept to the sidelines and let the events speak for themselves. They remain a nonbinary menace and threat to polite society.

Lyra Penoyer has been in and around the craft beer industry for close to 20 years. She’s a Certified Beer Judge, Certified Cicerone©, and WSET Beer Awards instructor. Her work in breweries, beer bars, and her own craft wine and beer bar for four years means she understands the challenges and triumphs small business owners experience every day.

Matt McLaren is a local beer industry professional with 10 years of experience in the craft beer world. He’s a sales and brand manager at Orcas Distributing; a craft beer distributor based in Kent, WA. On top of helping to organize Tacoma Beer Week events, he also co-hosts the Grit and Grain podcast based at Peaks and Pints in Tacoma. Matt is also an Advanced Cicerone© and applies his knowledge of beer hosting educational events and training classes for bars, restaurants, and breweries around western Washington.

First beer at 3 when my dad looked away for a second and I downed half of a MGD. Been a lover of beer ever since though my pallet has been enhanced over the years. Moved to Tacoma in 2001 where The Parkway became my second home and the staff & beer reps became my beer teachers and fabulous friends. Gateway beers into craft beers were Red Hook ESB, Alaskan Amber, and Newcastle Brown Ale. I’ve been a part of Tacoma Beer week in one way or another since its third year of existence. Helping to introduce all people to beer and its collaborative community is some of the best work I (we) do all year. I love meeting people, I love our community and I will try any beer at least once.

With over a decade of experience in the beer industry, Gary has established a reputation as a dedicated and knowledgeable beer sales professional.

Gary has honed his expertise in brand development, customer relations, and market strategy, working with a diverse portfolio of craft and mainstream beers.

Gary has excelled in building strong relationships with retail, supplier, wholesale, distributors and retailers, driving sales growth through strategic marketing initiatives and exceptional customer service. Gary has a deep understanding of beer trends, consumer preferences, and industry dynamics, and has been instrumental in successfully expanding market presence and boosting brand visibility.

Kyleigh cemented her love of beer at a beer and cheese masterclass and since then has sampled her way through many varieties. An occasional host and emcee of Beer Week-related events, she enjoys facilitating a welcoming environment for newbies to participate and helps keep the team grounded by reminding them not everyone knows what every beer acronym or ‘fancy word’ means. Her day job is in performing arts venue and event management, and she oversees the marketing and communications side of Beer Week.