When Hobby Meets Production: How 3D Printing Solves Real Problems at Mare Island Brewing Co.
Maker Faire Bay Area 2026
September 25th-27th
Five years ago, when my first printer was delivered, I was too timid to even open the box. Today, three printers run daily production for Mare Island Brewing Co., building tap handles, custom fixtures, merchandise and dozens of other fixes that used to mean a slow, off the shelf, not on brand, expensive order from a vendor.
Join me in discussing how a maker's obsession turned into real, measurable value for our brewery. I'll walk through real problems 3D printing solved here at Mare Island Brewing Co., including a $5 tap handle, custom fixtures no vendor made at any price, and how open-source communities like Printables make it possible, plus when printing in-house beats buying.
Whether you're a hobbyist or a business owner who's never considered 3D printing a production tool, you'll leave with a real-world case study for what's possible when a hobby room becomes a production floor.
Schedule
Ryan Gibbons
Ryan is co-founder of Mare Island Brewing Co., the craft brewery here on the Vallejo waterfront, where he oversees beer production, wholesale operations, and food and beverage programs across three taproom locations. Before brewing, he spent seven years in international winemaking and three decades in hospitality, including running his own photography and production company. Creativity and craft has always been the through-line, whatever form it takes. A self-taught maker with five years of 3D printing experience, Ryan is an active member of the Prusa community and designs his own tools and projects mostly using Tinkercad. He's a husband and father of three young, creative boys, who keep him printing outside the brewery as much as inside it.
