Former Stone Brewing Co. Brewer Joins Excel Brewery

(St. Louis/ January 11, 2013) Excel Brewery is excited to welcome Rod Burguiere as the new Assistant Brewmaster. Burguiere joins the Excel Brewery team from Stone Brewing Co.  in California, the 11^th largest craft brewery in the country.

Burguiere, originally from Alton, joined the Navy in 2003 and landed in California among the rising craft beer scene. He began home brewing to recreate the types of beers that he was trying which quickly made him forgo his plan of pharmacy school and led him to a career brewing for Bootlegger’s Brewery and later Stone Brewing.

“I couldn’t be more excited to bring my love of big and flavorful West Coast beer to the St. Louis Metro Area,” said Burguiere. “There are some amazing things happening in the St. Louis craft beer scene and I really think its time we put the Southern Illinois region back on the beer map.”

Burguiere brings more than eight years of experience in the brewing world to the newly created Excel Brewery. And, his expertise and experience with successful craft beer companies such as Stone is a valuable asset to the up and coming brewery.

“It was very apparent that the volume of beer Excel Brewery is selling and producing, that we needed to find additional help for our Head Brewmaster” says William Meier, General Manager at Excel Bottling Company. “We were fortunate enough to be looking for an experienced craft brewer when Rod was looking to come back to St. Louis. To say we were lucky is an understatement, we are proud that Rod is joining our team and we hope to learn from his expertise.”

Rod enjoys home brewing and working out in his spare time and when he’s not busy making beer he likes to relax with a good, hoppy pilsner.  A beer he says is overlooked in the craft beer world.

Call 618-526-7159 or visit www.excelbottling.com for more information about where to purchase any of the Excel Bottling products.

About Excel Bottling Company

Excel Bottling Company was founded in 1936 by the Meier Family. The company bottles more than 10 flavors of old-fashioned sodas including “Ski” soda. Each soda flavor is manufactured using pure cane sugar and most often packaged in eco-friendly, returnable glass bottles. In 2012, Excel Bottling Company embarked on a new bottling venture in the craft beer business serving Illinois and Missouri. Excel Bottling Company is headquartered in Breese, Ill. Visit www.excelbottling.com for more information.