Elan Walsky
Production Operations ManagerOriginally hailing from Santa Fe, NM, I have lived in Portland for 15 years and worked in the beer industry for 10 years. A passion for craft beer led me into a hobby of homebrewing, and eventually to formal brewing education at the Siebel Institute. In 2010, I became a founding member and head brewer of Coalition Brewing, a brewery and pub which operated in SE Portland for 9 years. After moving on from Coalition, I joined the production department at Imperial.
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Ryan Moore
Lab/R&D – PortlandMy love for beer really took off when I moved to Santa Monica, had my first Pliny the Elder at Father's Office, and soon thereafter discovered homebrewing. From the very beginning, I've loved playing around with different yeast strains and seeing what they contributed to the finished beer. I'm lucky enough to do that professionally now, although my employment at Imperial is a testament to serendipity; while waiting in line for a burrito outside a brewery I struck up a conversation that eventually led me here! If I'm not doing beer things, I'm probably cooking, reading, or trying to remember to be more mindful of the present moment.
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Jessica Tørresdal
AccountingBeer. Mmmm. I love a crispy Kolsch, a classic Cascade/ Chinook West Coast IPA, or a spicy aromatic Belgian. I began working at a homebrew shop when I moved to Portland in 2015, teaching folks how to make quality homebrew. I continued my path deeper into the beer industry by starting in the Imperial Yeast sales dept. in January of 2018, slingin' and singin' the praises of high quality yeast. I found my skills were most needed in accounting, which surprised the heck out of this beer loving poet and artist. Now I spend my days making sure the bills get paid, and raising up my two wee kiddos. Cheers!
Casey Helwig
Sales ManagerI’ve been with Imperial since 2016. It’s been a wild ride over the years! I count myself extremely fortunate to have been able to help build this company, from sales to culture. When I’m not working you’ll find me wrangling my 2 kiddos and dog on adventures in the beautiful PNW.
Adam McClure
Tech Support GuruA good friend told me I should move up to the Columbia River Gorge and brew with him. That was 14 years ago and we still haven’t brewed a batch together! Even though we ended up at separate breweries, the comradery never changed. I love this craft and am so proud to be a part of the community. When I’m not plugged in, you can generally find me out in the Gifford, down on the beach, or sipping suds at one of our local pubs. Cheers.
Danielle Redman
Production ManagerI'm a born and bred Oregonian, who found a love for beer because of its breadth and approachability. After getting a degree in Fermentation Science from OSU and working in PNW breweries for over 6 years, I joined the awesome team at Imperial to help propel the industry forward, so we can all keep making great beer even better. When I'm not geeking out over new beers or production spaces, I might be cooking up new food recipes, building legos, or cheering on my Timbers. RCTID.
Nate Howle
Production Operator - PhiladelphiaHail Beer! I moved to Philly from my home state of Delaware a decade ago to pursue a degree in chemistry with the hopes of working in the brewing industry. I have been lucky enough to work for some local industry greats such as Neshaminy Creek Brewing and Tired Hands Brewing since my relocation here. I joined the East Coast Imperial team in April of 2024 as a production operator to learn more about the fun lil critters that make beer as special and unique to all who enjoy. There aren’t many beer styles I avoid, but my favorites are Brett-forward wild ales, big hazy IPA’s, and smoked beers with an honorable mention to the mighty barleywine. I love living in Philly, and I am a massive Philly Union supporter. (DOOP!) I spend most weekends watching soccer from around the world with my amazing fiancé and dog with a homemade tiki drink or local beer in my hand.
Bruce Kehe
MarketingSuper stoked to be part of the Imperial team after spending most of the past 15 years leading marketing and communications efforts for craft breweries here in Portland. When not spreading the good word about Imperial Yeast, I enjoy doing an assortment of outdoor activities; going to local music shows; cheering for my Thorns, Timbers and Trojans; and supporting my kids' variety of activities. My personal taste leans towards West Coast IPAs and exploring the diverse world of lagers, but I'll abide by the old adage, "my favorite beer is the one in my hand."
Rebecca Keating
Production Lab Manager - PhiladelphiaMy job at Imperial is my first foray into the craft beer industry as a whole. Before this, I was a laboratory tech for the New Jersey Department of Agriculture where I worked with a wide array of different specimens, like marijuana, honeybees, and seeds, amongst others. Now I manage the QC lab at our Philly location (go birds) where I ensure all the bugs we propagate meet or exceed our high standards of quality. I love my garden and my cat, Duke, and when I'm not tending to either of those I can be found doing yoga, camping with my friends, or playing Stardew Valley. And now for my dark secret- I prefer wine over beer! But when I do find myself enjoying a brewski, it's a saison, a dark lager, or the foooooamiest czech lager I can get my hands on.
Our Story
Imperial Yeast was founded in 2014 to provide brewers of all scales with access to quality yeast, excellent customer service and effective technical support.
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