A Toast to Tastemakers: Other alumni in the industry

W&J alumni around the country are taking part in the rise of craft breweries, wineries, and distilleries over the last few decades. Some Presidents have spent their careers in the industry, while others are just starting out. They are committed to using their knowledge, whether it be scientific or entrepreneurial, to create quality products and give back to their communities – and they have a good time doing it. Yianni Barakos ’08 converted a 100-year-old…

When Yianni Barakos ’08 graduated from W&J with a degree in business administration, he envisioned a long and successful career for himself in construction project management, after which he would start a distillery as a working retirement project. But life had other plans. A car crash sidelined Barakos in 2012, leaving him in a state of recovery for the better part of two years. Unable to continue with his career plans due to physical limitations,…

When Ed Belfoure ’67 retired as a chemistry instructor at the Naval Academy, he and his wife planned to spend their time traveling. But after visits with their children out-of-state and a lengthy vacation abroad, Belfoure realized he needed something else to fill his days. With his wife’s support, he started a distillery in downtown Washington, Pennsylvania. Red Pump Spirits is named for the red pump from his grandparents’ home in Cokeburg, Pa., which now…

Joel McClosky ’00 and his business partner had the unusual distinction of opening the first brewery in a city that has only allowed alcohol sales since 2008. McClosky’s search for a teaching job led him to Asheboro, North Carolina, where he met Andrew Deming, the husband of a co-worker. When McClosky learned that Deming was a homebrewer, they began brewing together. While drinking the beers Deming made in his garage, the two started chatting about…