George Powell , Head Chef

Galveston native George Powell started his chef career working in Italian restaurants in 1979. He then began working in the first sous chef position at Mezzaluna and eventually became chef there in 1997. Starting in 2000, Powell started at head chef at North by Northwest.

Powell currently resides in Austin with his wife and two children.

Don Thompson, Brewmaster

Brewmaster Donald Thompson is one of the pioneers in the craft brewing movement in the United States. In 1982, Thompson and his wife Mary started the Reinheitsgebot Brewing Company in Plano, Texas. It was the first microbrewery in the Southwest and the 6th in the nation. 

He first came to Austin to help his friend, Davis Tucker, build the Copper Tank brewery and design the beers. He then designed the brewery and beers at North by Northwest, where Thompson has been the brewmaster since the resturant and brewery opened.

Ty Phelps, Head Brewer

Like most brewers, Ty began brewing his favorite beers at home in five gallon batches. After attending culinary school, he began interning in the brewery at the Bitter End Bistro in Austin, TX. His first paying brewing job was as a brewer's assistant at North by Northwest where he learned under brewmaster Don Thompson.

He attended the Brewing and Packaging course at the University of California at Davis in the summer of 2003. After two formative years assisting the brewers at North by Northwest, Bitter End, and Real Ale Brewing Co., Ty was offered the head brewer position at North by Northwest in October 2004. Since becoming head brewer, Ty has introduced many new ideas to NXNW, including cask-conditioned ales, Brewer's Dinners, bottled beer to go, and an expanded tap selection.

Mary Thompson, Director of Brewing Education

Mary Thompson is a graduate of the United States Brewers Academy in Chicago. She, along with her husband, Donald, started the first microbrewery in the Southwest. Thompson was the first woman elected president of a district in the 100 year history of the international organization, the Master Brewers Association of the Americas. She has been teaching classes about beer and beer styles for twenty years.

Mary Thompson is also the noted Queen of Quaff: a beer Q&A columnist for the Southwest Brewing News.

Davis Tucker, Owner

Davis Tucker has been in the brewing industry for many years...

But the webmaster is holding his biography hostage until he gives her a more updated photo!

Ha ha ha ha!