Barry Chan, Brewmaster

My introduction to craft beer occurred in college after drinking a Victory Hop Devil IPA, which was a mind-blowing experience. That’s the moment I caught the bug, leading me to actively seek out and taste different beers.

Curious about the process, I brewed my first batch of beer in 2008. What began as an occasional weekend activity evolved into an obsession. When I wasn’t brewing I found myself studying the chemical and biological processes involved in producing beer. Brewing had become my perfect combination of science, history, engineering, and magic.

As a Certified BJCP judge and award-winning homebrewer, I strive to produce clean and balanced beers. I have been successful in local and national-level competitions with a wide range of styles from hoppy IPAs and traditional German lagers to experimentals, such as my Thai-spiced Belgian trippel and peanut butter stout.

Before the call of owning a brewery, I was a practicing structural engineer in Seattle. I hold a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree in structural engineering from UCLA. I live in Seattle with my tolerant wife Katharine, baby daughter, two cats, and Fillmore the dog (my co-brewer).

Raymond Kwan, Director of Operations

My path to co-founding Lucky Envelope Brewing followed a traditional finance career trajectory which included 8 years of corporate finance and business development experience in Hollywood (NBC Universal and Warner Bros). After moving to Seattle in August 2010, I continued my finance work at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as a member of their Finance & Strategy team.

After departing the Gates Foundation I started exploring entrepreneurial activities, which ranged from dot-com ventures to more traditional establishments such as a sports bar or brewpub. Barry and I had been discussing opening some type of beer-related business since I moved to Seattle, but it wasn’t until the Summer of 2013 that our idea took the turn from being an idea on a napkin to becoming a reality. Over the past decade I have sought out local watering holes, unique bars, and great bartenders who enjoyed introducing me to new beers and whiskeys. My interest in finding a good drink and good conversation influenced my decision to open a brewery.

I am a New Jersey native and have made my way to Seattle via Boston, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., & Los Angeles (a second time). When I am not working you can probably find me shooting photos at a local parade or cyclocross event. I hold an MBA from Georgetown University. Hoya Saxa.