Meet Dan McGrane of Ormond Beach! Dan owns Beachside Brew Pub.

 

Question: What led you to your current career?

Answer: “I was home brewing and people really liked my beer and were telling me to do it, so I thought it was a no-brainer. My father, when I was a young man, said “you don’t have to love what you do, but you learn to love it.” I didn’t understand it at the time, but what he meant by it was that when you grow something, like a business you grow from scratch, you’re kind of proud of it and while it means really heavy work and long hours, you love it because it’s your own.”

 

Q: Where is your favorite place to eat in Volusia County?
A: “I don’t get out to eat much other than the great food trucks we have here, but when I go out to lunch I go to either Crabby Chris’ or Tipsy Taco. Tipsy Taco has an incredible ahi poke bowl. I’ve also been going to Our Deck Down Under for 20 years, best mahi sandwich, best mahi salad, period.“

 

Q: How long have you lived in this area?
A: “My whole life, and I’m 50.“

 

Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here?
A: “I meet a lot of people. I’ve had a customer here for three years name Chris who’s a scientist and he just moved, very charismatic, very orderly, great guy. Crabby Chris is a super interesting guy, works himself to death, great guy.”

 

Q: If you could travel anywhere in the world right now, where would it be? And why?
A: “Australia and New Zealand because I haven’t been there.“

 

Q: What is your favorite movie?
A: “I like a lot of movies, but I’ll say my favorite war movie is “Saving Private Ryan”. My favorite comedy might be “40 Year Old Virgin” or “Caddyshack”…or “Office Space”.”

 

Q: What advice would you give to someone who is new to the area?
A: “Talk to Alex about buying a house, haha. Live in Ormond on the beachside, it’s the greatest. It’s super mellow and there’s no other place I’d want to be.“

 

Q: What’s on your bucket list?
A: “Taking a 3 month trip to Australia.“

 

Q: What local business or place makes you the most nostalgic?
A: “Snack Jacks in Flagler Beach. Or my mother’s house on Banyan Drive.“

 

Q: Choosing anyone alive and a non-relative: with whom would you love to have lunch?
A: “I’m not going to pick one, but there are a few of these 60-70yr old guys who have owned businesses and are real sharp, and I’d have lunch with any one of them. Really good dudes!“

 

Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about this area?
A: “I think the neatest thing about this area is that on this side of the river, everyone is pretty mellow. On the other side of the river, everyone is more uptight. I think it’s the 8-degree change on those hot summer days when you get to this side of the river that changes your whole attitude.“

 

Q: Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
A: “Right here, hopefully with our own food truck or own restaurant in this building, and I hope we have a rooftop deck, and I hope we have a couple of 10-barrel fermenters and 10-barrel bright tanks to serve out of because I can barely keep up with demand right now.“

 

Q: What is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
A: “That I was in the military, in the Navy.“

 

Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME?
A: “My mom and dad, Banyan Drive, and Triton Rd.“

 

The Faces of East Volusia County is a project to showcase the amazing people that live and work in our community. If you would like to nominate an interesting person to be featured, please email alexbittner@adamscameron.com.