CONTINUING THE RICH BREWING TRADITION IN OAKLAND
Oakland is and always has been a beer town; a place where hard-working people would gather together to enjoy locally brewed, fresh beer. As the local population grew, Oakland was affectionately referred to as the “Milwaukee of the West” for its numerous neighborhood-based breweries.
Founded in 2009 as Linden Street Brewery, we became the first community-based production brewery in Oakland since Golden West Brewery closed in the 1950s. We are proud to have been the first of many craft brewers who have since restored production brewing in Oakland.
In 2017, following the sale of our building on Linden Street to a new developer, we moved our operations to the waterfront Jack London District and rebranded as Oakland United Beerworks.
With the support of a team of dedicated Oakland craft beer enthusiasts, Oakland United is proud to continue the great beer brewing tradition in Oakland.
COMMUNITY-FOCUSED
Emphasis on highlighting local chartiies and organizations that are central to our core ethos.
HISTORICALLY-ALIGNED
Alignment with the rich cultural, blue-collar tradition and history of brewing in Oakland.
OAKLAND CENTRIC
Branding is used to share historical facts about Oakland or highlight Oakland landmarks or figures and tell their unique stories.
MEET OUR CREW
Oakland United Beerworks is a small, tightly knit crew of talented, hardworking people dedicated to producing and serving brewery-fresh craft beer to our hometown of Oakland and neighboring communities.
Stephen Ruddy
BREWER
Originally hailing from Pennsylvania, Stephen earned his BA in History at San Francisco State University in 2013 and subsequently put down roots in the Bay area. Stephen’s pedigree in local craft beer is impressive, having worked in the brewhouses at Almanac Beer Company, Libertine Brewing Company, and Anchor Brewing Company over the last several years. Stephen’s extensive experience will be integral to our mission to expand our product line and ensure the highest quality products. Stephen’s resume is also burnished by his Certified Cicerone certification, attesting to his comprehensive knowledge of beer, competence in assessing beer quality, and ability to identify styles by taste.
Nathaniel Howard
ASSISTANT BREWER / CELLAR SUPPORT
Nate's career in the brewing industry began with Fort Point, providing him with diverse experiences throughout the Bay Area. From packaging to working as a logistics coordinator, Nate has embraced various roles, actively engaging with different aspects of brewery operations. He thrives on adaptability and is unafraid to get involved in hands-on tasks. Nate is a versatile team player who willingly takes on various responsibilities to ensure the smooth functioning of the brewery. From brewing beer to handling logistics and even performing miscellaneous duties, he actively contributes to supporting the team and its overall success. Nate is an adventurous and sociable person who loves to travel and have fun with his friends. He enjoys activities such as riding motorcycles, camping, and exploring different parts of the world. Nate believes that life is too short not to enjoy the company of great people while savoring a refreshing beer.
My passion for beer developed early on, inspired by the vibrant craft beer scene that was growing throughout the Bay Area. I've spent the last decade in the craft beer industry, having previously worked at Almanac Beer Co, Drake's Brewing Company, and more. I am the taproom manager here at OUB and it is my responsibility to keep our little corner of Oakland a place that people want to continue coming to. I hope to create a space that people not only want to frequent but feel at home as well. In addition to working in craft beer, I am a professional photographer. I specialize in weddings photographed with 35mm film. Photography is not just a job to me however, it is my passion. I'm also a dog mom, to a sassy blue nose pitbull named Daisy.
LISA WELLS
SALES DIRECTOR
With 25+ years of sales experience in various industries, Lisa brings her passion for building relationships, helping customers, and growing the business to the craft beer biz. As an alum of UCLA and supported by husband Mike, children S and Bryan, and daughter-in-law Lauren, Lisa’s expertise will help her convert non-believers into Oakland United fans across the Bay area. She first fell in love with our beer years ago during our Linden Street days when her nephew, Andrew Ritter, was head brewer. Sadly, Andrew passed away from ALS several years ago but Lisa’s passion for our beer continues and her presence strengthens Andrew’s “Drink Beer, Slay Dragon” philosophy at Oakland United. Her commitment to expanding the reach of our beer is truly a labor of love and we are delighted to have her on our team!
tracy jung
EAST BAY SALES
Tracy’s 15+ years of experience in sales and marketing are eye-popping, having directed custom, client-specific sales programs at GameStop Media, What They Like, Inc., MTV Networks, and IGN Entertainment, among others. While at GameStop, her customer-centric approach was key to her success as Sales Director of the West Coast and her accounts included Microsoft, Sony Pictures, and PlayStation. Tracy was also National Sales Director at What They Like, Inc. where she was responsible for establishing and maintaining a client base and her core accounts included E.A., Microsoft Xbox, and Nintendo. Her talent, personality, and extensive skill set would make her a success in any company but Tracy brings her undeniable sales cred to Oakland United! Be on the lookout for Tracy as she introduces our brews to more restaurants and pubs in your neighborhood! You’ll recognize her for her great smile so come on by and say HI!
Gracie Hammerstrom
SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER
Gracie's journey in the beer industry kicked off right here at Oakland United Beerworks. When the lockdowns disrupted her seven-year career in Buying and Merchandising, Gracie discovered an opportunity to return to her true passion—beer. Leveraging her keen interest in photography, she seamlessly transitioned into the role of our Social Media Manager. Gracie's creativity not only enhances our online presence but also plays a pivotal role in propelling the company's growth. Beyond her digital expertise, she contributes to event planning and oversees our merchandise offerings. If you happen to miss Gracie sharing a cold one with her friends, you'll likely find her out on her motorcycle, adventurously camping wherever the road takes her.
Kristen karnay
OPERATIONS LEAD
Kristen Karnay serves as our Operations Lead, a role that demands a blend of skills akin to being part Traffic Cop, part Jack-of-All-Trades, and part Flying Wallenda. Although working at our fledgling startup is enjoyable, running a brewery necessitates diligence from a multitude of creative minds collaborating to produce, distribute, and sell our beer. Kristen oversees all aspects of brewery workflow, optimizing efficiency while monitoring production, inventory, delivery, budgets, and ensuring adherence to quality standards and employee safety. Interestingly, Kristen holds a Master of Science degree in Forensic Science from the University of California, Davis, and has previously worked in the Ballistics Department at the San Diego Police Department. Despite her capability to address noncompliance through various "interesting" means, she prefers to leverage her considerable powers of persuasion to drive the implementation of our production and performance objectives.
CHRIS RITTER
CO-OWNER, LEAD SCHMOOZER
Growing up in Hawaii, Chris Ritter’s favorite time was when family, friends, and even strangers would come together to “talk story,” often over a local Primo Beer. It is no wonder that today in his role of OUB’s “Official Head Schmoozer and Lead Drinker,” he can most often be found at the taproom offering samples to our guests, giving brewery-made biscuits to their dogs, and talking to everyone about anything, even occasionally beer. Chris’ involvement goes back over ten years to the days when we were Linden Street Brewery. His son, Andrew, was our lead brewer back then. Sadly, Andrew died of ALS in 2017 at the age of 31. Today, we redouble our efforts to honor him by continuing to brew great beer and releasing our annual Andrew Ritter Tribute beer, proceeds from which go toward finding a cure for ALS. When Chris isn’t acting as ambassador of our brewery, he is a “Strategy and Jury Consultant Advisor,” meaning he helps clients hone their trial strategy, including jury selection and the use of expert testimony. But we suspect that despite his legal eagle creds, Chris’ first love is OUB. So when you’re at the brewery, don’t be surprised to see a smiling Chris coming your way, bearing samples of beer, dog biscuits, and a story or two.
JOHN KARNAY
MANAGING PARTNER, CO-OWNER
John has been a resident and champion of Oakland since 1976 when he moved from Gary, Indiana to the Bay area to attend Cal. Since then, John has married, had twin daughters, and had 30 years of experience as a real estate broker, with an interlude as founder of LaSalle Cigars in Montclair. Despite his success, John has never forgotten his roots in the steel mill country of Indiana. His father, most of his family and for a brief period, John himself, worked in the steel mills. These blue-collar roots help ground John in the values of hard work and equal opportunity and a strong sense of community. You will frequently see John working at the brewery or doing deliveries. If you do, say hi—he would love to hear from you!
Nate's career in the brewing industry began with Fort Point, providing him with diverse experiences throughout the Bay Area. From packaging to working as a logistics coordinator, Nate has embraced various roles, actively engaging with different aspects of brewery operations. He thrives on adaptability and is unafraid to get involved in hands-on tasks. Nate is a versatile team player who willingly takes on various responsibilities to ensure the smooth functioning of the brewery. From brewing beer to handling logistics and even performing miscellaneous duties, he actively contributes to supporting the team and its overall success. Nate is an adventurous and sociable person who loves to travel and have fun with his friends. He enjoys activities such as riding motorcycles, camping, and exploring different parts of the world. Nate believes that life is too short not to enjoy the company of great people while savoring a refreshing beer.
John has been a resident and champion of Oakland since 1976 when he moved from Gary, Indiana to the Bay area to attend Cal. Since then, John has married, had twin daughters and had 30 years of experience as a real estate broker, with an interlude as founder of LaSalle Cigars in Montclair. Despite his success, John has never forgotten his roots in the steel mill country of Indiana. His father, most of his family and for a brief period of time, John himself, worked in the steel mills. These blue collar roots help ground John in the values of hard work and equal opportunity and a strong sense of community. You will frequently see John working at the brewery or doing deliveries. If you do, say hi—he would love to hear from you!