People
Justice doesn’t happen by itself. Here’s who delivers it.
Our Story
In 2009, a lawyer, a landscape architect, two bankers and a computer guy figured beer was a worthwhile use of time. Legal Remedy was born, and this crew started entering homebrew competitions. Over time, they figured they would “go legal.” so they got a license from the Feds. Shortly thereafter in 2014, the first legal batch of Legal Remedy went to market. About nine months after that, the brewery on Oakland Avenue opened – and here we are. Needless to say we are omitting a detail or two, but we’re trying to tell a story here. This is the most American of stories – people with a common goal trying to make something. We think you will agree the results are mighty good.
Our People
Amelia Pignatone
Hops Negotiator
Amelia has been in the Restaurant industry for over 10 years now, she’s a people person for sure.
When she’s not working you can catch up with her on any of the amazing trails in NC/SC running and hiking!
She loves to eat healthy and yes drink beer, everyone needs some balance in their life.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Jury Panel Jalapeño Pineapple Ale
MOVIE QUOTE: “Grab that net and catch that beautiful butterfly pal” Wedding Crashers
Jenna Lilly
Jury Foreman
Jenna first joined the LRB family as a bartender & bar manager at LRB Riverwalk, where she quickly fell in love with the LRB culture. She graduated from slinging drinks behind the bar to handling our social media, marketing & graphic design projects. Jenna is a graduate of Winthrop University with a BA in Art & Graphic Design. When she’s not crafting cocktails and creative content at LRB, you can catch her traveling, doing home renovation projects and spending time with friends, family, husband, and her two dogs Zeus & Jolene.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Double Indemnity DIPA
MOVIE QUOTE: “I want to live my life so that I’ll be able to read an in-depth biography of myself in later years and not puke.” Paris Geller, Gilmore Girls (TV)
Zach McNeely
Head Brewer
Zach graduated from Appalachian State University with a B.S. in Fermentation Sciences. What he loves most about brewing is the creativity and sense of community it brings out in the people that enjoy beer. He’s a die-hard Ohio State Buckeyes fan and his favorite thing to do outside of brewing is go on backpacking trips with friends – places like Linville Gorge and the Smoky Mountains here in the Carolinas.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: World Court Mocha Blonde Stout
MOVIE QUOTE: “Sometimes that shark looks right at ya. Right into your eyes. And the thing about a shark is he’s got lifeless eyes. Black eyes. Like a doll’s eyes. When he comes at ya, he doesn’t even seem to be livin’… ’til he bites ya, and those black eyes roll over white and then… ah then you hear that terrible high-pitched screamin’. The ocean turns red, and despite all your poundin’ and your hollerin’ those sharks come in and… they rip you to pieces.” Jaws
Dave Rankin
Dave is one of our Brewers and is in charge of the Canning Line. He is also an avid homebrewer, winemaker, and a talented wood craftsman. Have you tried our Beerthday Grapefruit Pale Ale? That’s one of Dave’s tasty creations! What about those big, comfy Adirondack chairs out on the LRB patio you ask?…Yeah, Dave built those too! There’s no task too big or small that this guy can’t handle. Did we mention Dave also raises chickens? It’s true!
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Barrister Bitter
MOVIE QUOTE: “My advice to you is to start drinking heavily.” Animal House
John Brantley
Libation Lobbyist
Sales Team
John started with the company as a bartender as soon as LRB Riverwalk opened. Prior to LRB, he has been a construction worker, landscaper, strength and conditioning coach, and special education teacher, but always found his way back to the Food & Bev industry. When he ‘s not out in the field selling our beer, you can catch him playing disc golf, long-boarding, or rock climbing.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Wild Deed IPA
MOVIE QUOTE: “Just when you think you know something, you have to look at it in another way. Even though it may seem silly or wrong, you must try.” Dead Poets Society
Hunter Wigington
Sales
Hunter is an outdoor enthusiast who loves camping, fishing, hiking, and mountain biking. Clemson graduate and super fan, he bleeds orange. He’s looking forward to getting our cans into the hands of thirsty customers and ready to experiment with different beer recipes alongside the brewing team.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Matt Lindsay’s Dubbel Jeopardy
MOVIE QUOTE: “According to the map, we’ve only gone four inches.” Dumb and Dumber
Sam Gibbons
Sam has been with LRB since only a few months after they opened their doors in 2015. Always with the goal in mind to work in the brewery from his very first interview, he finally acquired cellar technician status after climbing the ranks of the kitchen, from prep cook to line chef for 2 and a half years, then spending half a year training as cellar tech, moving to full time as of 2019. You can catch him at the Riverwalk on a brisk jog, at Winthrop Lake honing his Lightsaber skills, or the local game shop playing in a Super Smash Bros tournament.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: OG Ale
MOVIE QUOTE:”Abracadabra, homes” Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Matt Simpson
Matt is the first person to move from NY state to the Carolinas. He is a homebrewer who loves everything about beer, especially drinking it! He’s worked for a distributor, a draft services company and is now on his second brewery. Matt is a big Tar Heel basketball and Miami Dolphins fan. He also likes going for long bike rides on the weekends and watching movies.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Bailout IPA
MOVIE QUOTE:”It rained all morning and then it cleared up, that’s it. ” Wayne’s World 2
Bill Neurohr
Paddington
Bill is one of the owners and founders of LRB. Sometimes lost, but never at a loss for words, Bill leads the effort on our beer names and descriptions. Normally working for a bank, Bill finds time to go through the Law Dictionary and provide the low-down on the brews. He’s still a big fan of NASCAR and the Carolina Panthers even though he moved out of town. He’s got LRB on tap in his house. Loyalty! It’s a thing.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Privileged Porter
MOVIE QUOTE: “Your life is an occasion. Rise to it.” Mr. Magorium’s Wonder Emporium
Steve Anderson
The Professor
Steve is one of the owners and founders of LRB. He is also our computer guy and will drop some science if needed. If you have seen the website, you have seen his work—all that clicky stuff is his handiwork. While working to get the Brewpub in shape we learned that Steve loves to run a nail gun and ride a tractor. Steve is the one wearing the Think Geek t-shirt and hates to miss a Star Wars weekend at Disney. He never turns down a bottle share.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Justice Juice IPA
MOVIE QUOTE: “It’s all ball bearings” Fletch
Joe Hubbarth
Chief Tester & Court Jester
Joe is one of the owners and founders of LRB. If you visit us on a Saturday, you’ll find Joe giving the Brewery Tours in the back. He works by day as a banker but at LRB he is our Made in Detroit go-to guy for building stuff. He once built a hovercraft out of a lawn chair, a piece of plywood and a leaf blower. He is an avid fisherman and traveler – only ONE U.S. state remains unvisited. He likes to take drives and purposely get lost. Call him optimistic.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Double Indemnity Double IPA
MOVIE QUOTE: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat.” Jaws
Mark Van Sickle
Sultan of Saison
Mark is one of the owners and founders of LRB. Mark is a landscape architect by trade – he is skilled at telling you where to plant a tree. He designed the outside spaces of the brewery; which we think turned out great. Mark is the master of smoked meats and has been the driving force behind the pint o’ bacon, a pint full of, well, bacon. Ask for one to see what we mean. Mark has also completed a couple of 31.5 mile ultra-marathons. Ask him why he would do such a thing—we can’t figure it out either.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Sequestered Saison
MOVIE QUOTE: “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” Ferris Bueller’s Day Off
Alex Hubbarth
Marketing Magistrate
Alex helped to grow Legal Remedy’s digital marketing presence through photos and conversations in social media, newsletters, and web/blog entries since the guys brewed their first batch of beer. She’s a great cheerleader, always shining the light on others and encouraging our creative (and sometimes crazy) ideas. When she’s not behind the scenes at LRB, you might catch her in the background of a locally filmed movie or behind her computer writing new stories to share.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Double Indemnity DIPA
MOVIE QUOTE: “We get to choose who we let into our weird little worlds.” Good Will Hunting
Bridget Van Sickle
Jury Member
Bridget is a sassy straight-shooter with an eye for detail and passion for family and sense of community. She helped pick out the lamps and the tiles and the tables…all the stuff you see and feel when you come to LRB. She’s all about the LRB brand and vibe of the place. When you do see her at the brewery she will likely be with family, blood or LRB … you know, for the experience.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Justice Juice IPA
MOVIE QUOTE: “Life marches by. I suggest you get on with it.” On Golden Pond
Amy Anderson
Expert Witness
Amy is in charge of merchandising. She tracks inventory and keeps us fresh with our cool threads and fun beer swag. She also wrote our employee manual, which keeps us in line. When she’s not ordering more T-shirts, Amy is often found in her minivan driving taxi to lacrosse or carpool to music lessons.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Justice Juice IPA
MOVIE QUOTE: “Earmuffs” Old School
Cassie McGowan
Certified Cicerone®
Librarian
Cassie is the keeper of the “stuff.” She keeps track of our beer and food menus, which change literally every day. She also makes sure we have our fancy logo’d up glassware that has a tendency to walk off (we know who you are). When she is not driving the three kids around, you might see her at the brewery getting the scoop on the menu changes and the new beers coming on line.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Jury Panel Jalapeño Pineapple Ale
MOVIE QUOTE: “I don’t care about what anything was DESIGNED to do, I care about what it CAN do.” Apollo 13
Chad McGowan
Manager & Counsel Generale
Chad is one of the owners and founders of LRB. He is a trial lawyer by trade and is frequently in trial representing clients around the Southeast. When he is not in Court or doing other lawyer stuff, you will see Chad around the brewery doing other things that law school prepared him well for—like pulling weeds from the flower beds, running garbage, or tending the hops.
FAVORITE LRB BEER: Matt Lindsay’s Dubbel Jeopardy
MOVIE QUOTE: “iiiiii (slap) dentical!” My Cousin Vinny
