JAMES COSTA, Brewmaster
Over the last 17 years, James Costa has had the pleasure of working at some of Northern California's most notable craft breweries, assisting in the creation of some truly spectacular beers. He was Bear Republic's first Assistant Brewer, and during his time there James soaked up as much as he could about the brewing process, including aiding in the production of their now famous flagship beer, Racer 5.

James believes that in order to continually create great beers, the key is to never stop learning. He's competed in the Great American Beer Festival in Colorado every year since 1996 and annually attends The Hop Union Hop School to learn about the hop harvest in Yakima, Washington. At the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company he is eager to continue this education, especially when it comes to creating beers that pair well with food, and immerse himself in the warm and family-friendly environment. But it won’t be all about James' education. "I look forward to bringing a hoppier style of beers to Half Moon Bay," he says, "Some people may find them intimidating at first, but I look forward to introducing the community to something a little different."

BRIAN HICKS, Brewing Assistant
Brian is from coastal beach town of Wrightsville Beach, North Carolina, where he grew up enjoying ocean kite boarding and windsurfing. After graduating from the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill with a degree in Communication Studies, Brian made his way west to the Colorado Rockies where he honed his beer skills at Crazy Mountain Brewing Company in Vail Valley. Missing the ocean breezes, Brian continued westward and landed here at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company. A certified yoga instructor, Brian is looking to add good karma and brew high gravity beer.