Y’all know our distilling and brewing operations are a labor of love, so when we set out to find someone to help us get our products out to our retail partners, we needed to find someone who would handle it with the same care and love that we would. We found Daniel Tilson.
Daniel grew up in Gurley, Alabama, a small town just outside of Huntsville. Even though he enjoyed the slower pace of life (and less traffic - we can’t blame him), he wanted to set out and explore the world. A tour in the Navy first brought him to San Antonio, followed by an internship he landed with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department as he was leaving the military. After taking some time to go to school, it was the amazing cuisine, proximity to camping spots and trails, and of course, the craft beer, that lured him back to make San Antonio his home.
Let’s find out more about this veteran whose past work included measuring the dots on salamanders’ heads (for real).
How did you first hear about Dorćol?
I discovered Big Hops - Shaenfield early on and regularly attended the Pint Nights. Dorćol’s HighWheel Beer was featured on one of those evenings.
When did you first pick up an interest in craft beers and why?
I only started drinking beer a couple of years ago and had previously stuck to hard liquor. I also did a running night on Tuesdays, Ike Tails, at Eisenhower Park near another brewery that did a $2.50 pint night. Not drinking beer at that time, I would drink the ciders, but they were $6. I decided I should start drinking beer and began with the lightest option. Over time, I grew to enjoy IPAs, sours and so on.
What is your favorite HighWheel?
The SA Hefe! I’m a big Hefeweizen fan - I love the banana and clove taste of it. It pairs really well with pretty much anything you eat and is really refreshing after a long hot day. It has more body than a lighter beer but still is refreshing. It’s one of those styles I really enjoy, and our Hefe has Bavarian all over it.
What drew you to working at Dorćol?
The consistently high quality. The team works hard to make the best product possible, every single time. The Betty for example, will taste the same from month to month and I know it will be really good. I wanted to be part of a team that takes their craft seriously.
What did you learn from your time in the Navy and Texas Parks and Wildlife that you think will be beneficial to this job?
After my military life, I worked in customer relations for a golf course and interacted with customers, making sure they had a good experience. At Dorćol I want to continue the philosophy that we are not just a vendor. I want to continue building personal relationships. I also want to bring a fresh mindset - I did a lot of data analysis in my previous jobs. I had to critically think outside of the box and problem solve, so I think I can use that to improve efficiency of deliveries.
How do you approach customer service? What do you think is most important for this job?
For me right now it’s first impressions. Being a new face with the company, it’s important to explain what we do and why we do it. I’m the one who continues the relationship with our customers, and I’m the face of Dorćol when I go out there. Showing up when I’m supposed to and doing the best I can while I’m there is important. I hope to excel at that.
This is obviously a critical job for Dorćol. What do you think you’re doing well?
I feel like I’m asking the right questions. I’m trying to help the business grow. If I do my job well, Dorćol will grow, which means I will grow as well.
What do you love most about working for Dorćol so far?
It encapsulates the opportunity to explore. I know a little about distilling and brewing - I have some friends who home brew, and it’s interesting to see it on a larger scale. It opens up new views of San Antonio, restaurants, places and people for me. Previously, I stuck to my familiar places.
Which beer would you recommend to someone who has never had HighWheel before?
Betty or SA Hefe - Betty is an easy beer to drink, light and flavorful. It’s a good starter beer for those who are new to beer. SA Hefe is a really high quality Hefeweizen, it’s a really well-rounded beer. And it’s my favorite.
So there’s Daniel, in a nutshell. Say hey to him when you see him around… and don’t be shy about treating homie to a SA Hefe.