Keith Villa

Master Brewer, Coors Brewing Co.

By Kim McHugh

What is your handicap?

15, but going down.

How often do you play?

About 40 times a year locally and maybe six or eight times on business trips.

How long have you been a golfer?

I started in elementary school, gave it up in high school and picked it up again six years ago. My wife, son, and two daughters, enjoy it as a family.

Where do you play?

West Woods in Arvada, Applewood in Golden and Willis Case in Denver, which is great for kids. I like Fossil Trace, too.

What inspired your career in beer-making?

About two months before graduating from CU Boulder, I saw a sign that Coors was looking for someone to do brewing research. My mom wanted me to be a pediatrician, and I’d even taken my MCATs, but the research job sounded pretty cool. I’ve been at Coors since the day after graduation.

With which of “your” beers would golfers be familiar?

I developed the recipe for Blue Moon Belgian White in 1994. In my wildest dreams I never thought it would become one of the largest craft-brewed beers in the United States.

What is the best part of your game?

I bought a set of TaylorMade RAC irons two years ago; those helped my game quite a bit. 

What is the weakest?

I still three-putt too often.

How is golf similar to making beer?

In golf you want the best equipment, and in beer-making you want the best-quality ingredients. Both require patience and skill. However, where a low number is your goal in golf, in brewing you strive to rate the highest score. 

What attracts you to golf?

I respect and admire the history, tradition and integrity. These are the same reasons I was attracted to Coors. 

What would you name a golf-related beer?

I’ve brewed with fruit, spices—I even did a chicken-flavored beer once. Why not Birdie Beer?

—Interview by Kim D. McHugh

Colorado AvidGolfer is the state’s leading resource for golf and the lifestyle that surrounds it. It publishes eight issues annually and proudly delivers daily content via www.coloradoavidgolfer.com.