Welch suggests for himself a new title of “CVO” – a Chief Visionary Officer who will work on the large scale, making sure the vision he translated into a successful New York City operation continues as the company expands through the Mid-Atlantic.

“There are only so many hats that one can wear. It simply got to the point where I was so divided that I could no longer give each facet of the operation the requisite time [it] needs,” he tells The Drink Nation, adding, “This probably just one of many [ways] we will reorganize as we grow.”

Fans of the many different Sixpoint craft cans have no need to worry, however, as Welch has full faith in the team that will oversee production henceforth. Head brewer Ian McConnell has been with the company ever since rethinking being too scared to show up at his hiring interview. Pete Dickson is both a mechanical design engineer and beer aficionado (who got a Sixpoint tattoo prior to being hired). Sean Redmond is never in a bad mood – a great thing, because we firmly believe attitude can skunk a beer quicker than anything else.

Sixpoint also now has a true Braumeister in Jan Matysiak. Born and raised in Germany, Matysiak has completed the four-year Diplom Braumeister program at the Weihenstephan Institute in Freising, Germany, and already has “over 30 different new beers” he is working on. Jan also sports one of the sweetest beer tattoos we’ve ever seen.

Congrats to Shane; we’re looking forward to Sixpoint’s bright future.