Dick Cantwell is among the most well-respected and experienced craft brewers, co-founding Elysian Brewing Company in 1996, where he served as head brewer until its sale to Anheuser-Busch in 2015. During his tenure, Elysian was named Large Brewpub of the Year three times at the Great American Beer Festival® (1999, 2003 and 2004). In 2004, Cantwell received the Brewers Association’s Russell Schehrer Award for Innovation in Brewing. Additionally, he has written for various beer magazines, authored Barley Wine with Fal Allen, The Brewers Association’s Guide to Starting Your Own Brewery, Second Edition, and most recently, Wood & Beer: A Brewer’s Guide, co-authored by New Belgium’s Peter Bouckaert. Recently appointed the Brewers Association’s Quality Ambassador, Cantwell makes presentations across the country at state guild conferences and other places where brewers gather.