Compass Rose

46

Compass Rose Brewery

Compass Rose Brewery is a craft brewery in northeast Raleigh featuring an 11,000-square-foot space with half of the footprint dedicated to a beautifully unique taproom and the other half serving as production space for operation of the 10-barrel brewhouse.

Compass Rose opened its doors for business in May 2015 and began producing beer on site roughly six months later. Owners Jose Luis Martinez and Gary Kohake have a background in agricultural trading — with operations for Mercator Inc. based in Wake Forest. Years ago, they saw an opportunity to fill a demand for local craft beer in the northeastern side of the city.

Since opening, Compass Rose’s spacious taproom — adorned with industrial décor, long beer hall style wooden tables and large windows opening into the brewery — has served as a gathering place for the area neighborhoods surrounding it.

Head Brewer Justin McConkey began homebrewing as a senior at Florida State University in 2003. Brewing at home slowly developed into a passion for McConkey, but it would take years before it led to a professional role.

After graduating with a degree in information technology, McConkey changed course and began working in commercial kitchens, building upon a longstanding love for cooking since growing up and working in kitchens for beer money as a college student. Several sous chef positions and one head chef position later, he transitioned to the world of B2B sales, pushing IT products, copiers and printers and document-management services.

It was through networking as a salesperson that Justin eventually connected with Jose and Gary, which led to a job offer. At the time, the decision to leave the relative security of a white collar sales job for a blue collar job in manufacturing with lower pay and less benefits was one of the toughest choices he had ever faced — though it was quickly simplified upon realizing the rarity of the opportunity and the certainty of living life regretting the unknowns, if he were to let it pass by.

Justin joined Compass Rose Brewery as general manager in August 2016, overseeing the taproom and working to build an outside sales program then transitioned into the role of head brewer in April 2017.

The spacious and rustically decorated taproom is managed by Bryan Grace — the company’s longest-tenured employee. Bryan started at Compass Rose as a bartender shortly after the opening in 2015 and moved into the role of taproom manager in early 2018. One of Bryan’s main focuses each week is maintaining a constant flow of events to keep the regulars entertained — there’s a constant rotation of food trucks on site, and weekends are often packed with live music, oyster roasts, wing eating competitions and other seasonal festivities drawing large crowds to fill the communal tables.

The brewery’s production volume has continued to climb steadily, and Scott Andujar joined the team as assistant brewer in December 2018 to support that growth. Compass Rose reached a milestone in late May of this year as its released its first cans of the three flagships in 16-oz four-packs: Crema de Coa cream ale with agave nectar, Scott’s View Scottish export ale and Tidal Break west-coast IPA. More can releases are planned for the year and beyond — and the brewery sells to-go 32-oz crowlers of its draft releases at the taproom.

The company’s next goal will be to expand its brand by opening smaller taprooms around the Triangle and beyond — beginning as early as 2020.

47