Seven Years of Beers: Q&A with Burning Barrel’s Duncan Alexander

The Barrel District is buzzing, and for good reason…our member Burning Barrel Brewing Co. is approaching its 7-year anniversary! Founded in 2018 by father-son duo Jack and Duncan Alexander, Burning Barrel has received dozens of accolades for its innovative brews and, most recently, the brewery has opened a second location, Burning Barrel Brewing and Spirits, in Placerville.

Ahead of the craft brewery’s big celebration happening July 19th, we asked Duncan Alexander, Co-Founder and Director of Operations, about the brewery’s journey, the team’s passion, and what’s next for Burning Barrel. Read on for more!

Photo Courtesy of Burning Barrel

RCBD: What inspired you to first open the brewery? And more specifically, how did you select Rancho Cordova?

Duncan Alexander: Our family has dreamed about opening a brewery and distillery for many decades, stemming from Jack Alexander's passion for producing imbibing beverages. After [I] graduated from college at the University of Oregon, we began to outline our business plan and model for turning our dream into reality. We searched for the perfect location for about  two years before ultimately deciding to launch our venture in Rancho Cordova. This location was attractive for many reasons: a growing city that stands behind and supports the beverage industry; located on one of the main thoroughfares; in a building featuring high ceilings for production, ample space for seating, and parking.

How did you land on the name “Burning Barrel”?

The barrel is the consistent core element throughout history for alcoholic beverages. From wine to beer to spirits, the barrel is the vessel that allowed these industries to start, grow, and flourish over the last few centuries. The products we make are not only focused on tradition and world-class quality, but also on innovation and excitement. We felt the name 'Burning Barrel' thoroughly encapsulated that into the core of who we are. 

The Burning Barrel team celebrated its sixth busines anniversary in July 2024. (Photo Courtesy of Burning Barrel)

How would you describe your business’s journey over the last seven years?

Opening in 2018, we entered a growing craft beer market with a lot of other new concepts establishing themselves at the same time, both nationally and locally. We did not know exactly what to expect, outside of knowing people would like our unique products, ambiance, and people. We hit the ground running and received an amazing response. When COVID hit after being open for just under two years, everything changed for us overnight. We quickly pivoted our production focus on selling cans to-go, as our tasting room was shut down, which is something we had offered occasionally since 2018 but had not fully committed to until 2020. 

Surprisingly enough, that forced pivot exploded our brand throughout the region and the entire state of California. People who weren't locals to our Rancho Cordova location could now enjoy our beverages, and more and more people outside of the area wanted our beer shipped to them, and had their local craft beer shops carry our brand. As the mandates tapered off and patrons were able to come back to drink our products onsite, we kept producing more and more of our beer in cans while also servicing our keg demand for draft pours. 

With continued enthusiasm for Burning Barrel, we were in a position to focus on our long-term plan to open a production distillery in Rancho Cordova, where we quickly began filling up barrels with our whiskey. In 2022, we decided to pursue a second customer-serving location in downtown Placerville. And after 2 years of tireless work, we opened Burning Barrel Brewing and Spirits on Main St. in Placerville in November of 2024, offering our Burning Barrel Beers, Burning Barrel Spirits, and a small craft kitchen. The response has been nothing short of incredible, and we are excited for what is to come!

Burning Barrel uses ingredients and flavors really creatively. Where do you draw inspiration from?

Our process is rooted in tradition while looking at creativity and innovation with every product we make. We produce incredible lagers, both old and new age, bold IPAs, barrel-aged stouts, and fruited sours and seltzers. When we craft our barrel-aged and fruited creations, we draw inspiration from the culinary and mixology world to produce products that people haven't ever experienced, and that's what drives us week in and week out.

What advice do you have for a consumer who wants to “get into” beer, but doesn’t know where to start?

The best part about beer is that it is truly a beverage for everyone. There are so many different flavors and styles to explore that every palate can enjoy. We have had the privilege of having many craft "newbies" come into our locations, and we do our best to find something they will fall in love with. I would recommend asking questions to bartenders about what products they have to offer and what other kinds of drinks and food they typically enjoy, and just start trying different styles! Most breweries offer flights, which is a great way to get smaller sample sizes and try multiple products at once. Don't be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, you never know what you may like!

What is your favorite thing about doing business in Rancho Cordova?

Rancho Cordova is a city that truly embraces its craft beverage community. Through their marketing efforts, grants, willingness to support events, and even host their own, it is amazing to be located in a city that supports companies like ours!

If you could only drink one Burning Barrel beer for the rest of your life, what would it be?

The next one we make. While we have a few core products, our company prides itself on offering 1-5 brand new creations every week. I'm not someone who sticks to a single beer; I like what is coming out next.

What is next for Burning Barrel?

We are excited to host our 7-year anniversary on Saturday, July 19th, from 11a-10p! We will have 2 food trucks, 7 beer releases, a mechanical bull from 12-3p and a lot of new commemorative merch releasing that day! Also, for the first time ever, we are holding a limited bottle sale of our 'Alexander Stout Cask Single Malt Whiskey' at our production distillery in Rancho Cordova on July 19th from 3-4p at 2933 Gold Pan Ct. For our new Placerville location, we are releasing our new summer cocktail and food menu on July 8th, which we are very excited about!

Cheers to seven years, Burning Barrel! To learn more, visit burningbarrelbrewco.com.