Nearly six months ago, I broke the news Mill Avenue nightlife entrepreneur Julian Wright was going to open a brewpub called Pedal Haus in downtown Tempe this fall.
Now we know who will be brewing the beer: Derek “Doc” Osborne.
Earlier: Julian Wright to open Pedal Haus brewpub in downtown Tempe
The news may come as a bit of a shock to those familiar with the Arizona craft beer scene. Osborne, one of the state’s most prominent brewers, has been with BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse for two decades.
“We were introduced about six months ago by a mutual friend,” Wright says. “As Doc has done with many other breweries in town, he was graciously letting me pick his brain on his off days.
“One thing led to another and he decided to come on board full-time and create something great at Pedal Haus Brewery.”
‘Easy job to enjoy’
Osborne started at California-based BJ’s first brewery in 1996 as a “hose dragger” and worked himself up to head brewer.
For the past few years, working primarily out of the chain’s Chandler location (one of 159), his title has been director of brewery research and development for the company.
“BJ’s has been an awesome company to work for,” Osborne says. “(They)Â sent me to London to brew and to Scotland to R&D. I’ve even been to Bermuda on the company dime.
“They have taken care of me well and have made it an easy job to enjoy. But after 19 years of brewing the same thing day after day, I felt something was missing.”
Lure of local
At Pedal Haus, Osborne will be running a 15-barrel system in the former Islands restaurant and former cap shop in front of the AMC Centerpoint 11 theaters.
His first day at his new job will be in early July.
“New recipes, new challenges and ultimately an opportunity where the guests in our establishment make a bigger impact on our decisions – versus national trends – are what motivate me,” Osborne says.
“I prefer local in my life and want to react to my community that ultimately supports me.”
