When it comes to coffee and beer, we hold the same philosophy as Steve Kincaid–the lead tour guide of Green Flash Brewing Co.:
If you don’t like beer, you haven’t had the right one yet.
Steve took us on an exclusive tour of the facilities and shared some insights behind one of San Diego’s craft beer pioneers. As they paved the road of unconventional, yet ridiculously tasty brews, their success has resulted in them being a behemoth of a brewing company that has expanded worldwide. And yet they remain locally owned, and consistently put out incredible beers.
Their most popular beer bears a name that rightly fits a quintessential west coast IPA: West Coast IPA. It’s a double IPA, incredibly hoppy, and balanced between floral smells and piney notes. It has bite, but it’s easy and enjoyable to drink.
We asked Steve some questions about Green Flash Brewing Co., and about himself also.
What’s the best part of working at Green Flash?
Free beer. I’ve been working at Green Flash for a little over three years, I love talking to people about beer. I love seeing people have a moment where maybe they didn’t like beer, they thought they didn’t like a certain type of beer, and then you provide them the information, and they go, “Oh you know what? That’s kind of a cool thing. I didn’t think about it that way.” Or I hand them a beer, and they go, “Oh that smells familiar.” And I go, “does it maybe smell like bananas or bubble gum?” And they go: “It smells like bananas and bubble gum!”, and you’re like, “Wow, man!” I watched that person learn something about beer. Being in this company that’s focused on education of the consumer–we have a whole tour program because we want people to be better educated. It makes for better consumers…that’s a better situation for everybody.
What’s your favorite Green Flash Beer?
It’s constantly changing. Like I don’t know what my favorite beer is going to be at any point of the day. Right now I’m drinking Alpine Nelson. I love this beer, but I also love the favorites from Green Flash like West Coast IPA. I’ve been drinking a lot of Passion Fruit Kicker, if I’m being honest. The brand new canned beer we put in two weeks ago, GFB, or Green Flash Blonde, that’s an awesome beer–I’ve been drinking a lot of that. I like to mix it up. But the answer is: I like to mix it up and the one closest to me that’s cold is usually the right answer.
What do you enjoy doing?
I love talking to people about beer. Like literally, this is the perfect job for me.
Do you have any favorite mantras or phrases?
Do your best, and then do better until your best is better than the rest. I also have a tattoo that says, “It’s about the journey, not the destination. Enjoy every moment.”
What does the perfect day look like?
I live about a hundred yards from the Pacific Ocean, so I get out in the sand, probably play some volleyball with my friends, I get in the water for a little dip, and then go have some good food with them…we eat together, drink together, play volleyball together…so hanging out with my friends I guess is the answer.
What are three things you can’t live without?
The sun, good beer, and my family.
We’re a coffee and beer website, what coffee shops might we run into you at?
If you were to find me in a coffee shop, I’ve been drinking a lot of Better Buzz Coffee at Mission Beach, they’re all over PB–Pacific Beach area–but Better Buzz is pretty good. I also like Mostra. That’s a local company as well.
Who is Steve Kincaid?
I’m the lead tour guide for Green Flash Brewing in a professional capacity. I’m a beach lover on the other side.
