CHEF ROB MASONE

Hometown: Rock Hill, South Carolina
Hobbies: Family, Food, Gamecock Football
Favorite word: "Friggin"
Philosophy: "Stay true to the foundations but break every rule possible on the way to the plate…or lack thereof."

Specializing in hands-on culinary experiences, fairy tale wedding receptions, wine pairings, and one-of-a-kind menus, Chef Masone has travelled both locally and nationally to share, teach and demonstrate his cutting-edge culinary visions to event planners and chefs from all over the globe.

Chef Rob has worked in hotels and casinos such as Paris, Bally’s, Cosmopolitan and Caesars Palace and worked side by side with some of the best chefs and event planners in the industry. In July of 2011, Chef Masone had the unique opportunity to be the first ever American chef to travel to Kabul, Afghanistan to represent the United States in a culinary showdown on the Afghani’s extremely popular international television show, 59 Minutes, (based on the format of Iron Chef) where he competed against the country’s Golden Chef. The innovative creations from Chef Rob are now blossoming to another level with the Heist platform.

BREWMASTER ZACH HART

Hometown: Dallas, TX
Hobbies: Sports (Cowboys, anything Texas), Enjoying beer and other people’s interpretations of beer, Spending time with my family
Favorite Saying: "I’m Good"
Philosophy: Simple is best, like mom’s home cooking! Don’t overcomplicate, stick to basic malts for better taste.

A native of Dallas, Texas, our award-winning brewmaster Zach Hart has crafted his talent for brewing to produce a wide range of specialty beers. His famous Indian Pale Ale (IPA) won the Great American Beer Festival 2001 silver medal award, which is the one of the most prestigious and difficult categories to win. This award is recognized worldwide, putting Zach’s beers on the map as one of the world’s most sought after brewers. Since then, Zach’s creative craftsmanship continues to shine and win awards annually. Most notably, Zach developed his signature Jack’d Up Stout using barrels from the Jack Daniels distillery to infuse flavor into an award-winning beer—2007, 2008 and 2009 gold medal winner at the Carolinas Championships of Beer. Zach continues to rack up awards with his creative blends of hops and barley as recently as 2011 where he took home five medals for his brews and plans on continuing this success with Heist Brewery.

  • 2001 Great American Beer Festival
    Hoppy Hour IPA: silver medal (English-style pale ale)
  • 2001 World Beer Championships
    Schwarzbier (silver medal)
  • 2003 All About Beer Magazine
    “101 Must-taste Beers in the World” July issue
    Hoppy Hour IPA
  • 2004 All About Beer Magazine
    Front cover, September issue
    "Who Brews the Best"
  • 2006 Carolina Championship of Beer
    Belgian Tripel (gold), Belgian Dubbel (gold)
    Hopocracy (bronze)
  • 2007 Carolina Championship of Beer
    Tripel (gold), Jack’d up Stout (gold), Schwarzbier (bronze), Dubbel (bronze), Jack’d up Stout – 2nd place "Best of Show"
  • 2008 Carolina Championship of Beer
    Tripel (gold), Jack’d up Stout (gold), Nut Brown (silver), Dubbel (silver), Schwarzbier (bronze)
  • 2009 Carolina Championship of Beer
    Jack’d up Stout (gold), Kristalweizen (gold), Irish Red (silver), Imperial Stout (silver)
    Nut Brown (bronze), Tripel (bronze), Schwarzbier (bronze)
  • 2010 Carolina Championship of Beer
    Kristalweizen (gold), Irish Red (silver), Imperial Stout (bronze), Peach Hefeweizen (bronze), Raspberry Porter (bronze)
  • 2011 Carolina Championship of Beer
    Blonde (gold)
    Hefeweizen (gold)
    Schwarzbier (silver)

BAR MANAGER STEFAN HUEBNER

Hometown: Bank Town USA, Charlotte, NC
Hobbies: Hanging with my daughter blowing bubbles, Food, Drinks, Fun, Going to concerts and Throwing devil horns
Favorite Saying: "Rumor has it"
Philosophy: “Work hard, play harder!" "You’re only as great as your last drink!"

Heist Brewery has the pleasure of adding one of Charlotte's best and most famous bartenders around, Stefan Huebner. Stefan began his career as a baker, then became an executive chef, but soon left the culinary life behind to join an alternative rock band. This rock star lifestyle is what led him to eventually become the bartender he is today. He is truly a jack-of-all-trades.

In 2010, Stefan and his cocktail "The Queen Charlotte" (Bombay Sapphire, Campari, Prosecco, peach bitters, simple syrup, orange juice and a candied sugar twist for garnish) were selected to be a part of GQ Magazine's 41 Most Inspired Bartenders in the country.

After 14 years at Cosmos Café in Ballantyne, Stefan decided to bring his award-winning cocktails to the innovative and exciting world at Heist Brewery. The creative cocktail menu will be sure to further his success in the Queen City.

FOUNDER KURT HOGAN

Hometown: Glastonbury, CT
Hobbies: Skiing, hanging with friends and family, traveling, exploring anything outdoors, drinking good beer and eating good food, movies, music, art, hyperboles, laughing, photography, exaggerating, cooking, etc.
Favorite Saying: I don’t have one, but I say the word "Dude" a lot.
Philosophy: Stay humble, Think big, Put other people first, Stay active, Think outside the box, Follow your dreams, You can accomplish anything if you try, Be happy, It's okay to be a little crazy.