Spotlight on Chuck Everett
and the Beard That Built a Following
By Sheri Renner | Photo by Kerrie Houston Reightley
Many islanders know Chuck Everett as co-owner of Bainbridge Brewing. Others know him through Rotary, where he has helped lead community grants and the massive four-day donation intake operation for its annual auction. Recently, though, Everett became known for something else entirely: his beard. Beardbrand, a men’s grooming company, placed him as the No. 1 seed in the Midwest bracket of its national March Madness-style Beard & Mustache Tournament. He hoped to make the Sweet 16. Then the votes started pouring in, and Everett ran the table.
When did you realize you wanted to make Bainbridge your home?
I moved up from California for work in 1993. My office was in Pioneer Square, and several coworkers lived on Bainbridge. I looked around Seattle and the Eastside, but the idea of a walk-on ferry commute and coming home to a quieter island life made Bainbridge feel like the right choice.
What part of Bainbridge still feels wonderfully unchanged?
The coastal parks, especially Fay Bainbridge. Bainbridge has grown, but it still feels like a small town. I love that you can still find calm, forested places here, and still feel close to the water almost everywhere you go.
Where did your interest in service and the outdoors begin?
Scouting was a big part of it. I became an Eagle Scout at 15, and my dad was a scoutmaster. Our troop did a lot of hiking and mountain climbing in the Sierras, including Mount Whitney. I later became an assistant scout master here on Bainbridge, and my son Russell became an Eagle Scout too.
What has it been like building Bainbridge Brewing with Russell?
It has been great working together and watching him grow into the business. Russell is the brewmaster and I focus more on sales and administration. Over time, our two locations have developed their own feel. The Taproom is part of the Coppertop Park mix and has more of a local vibe, while the Alehouse has its own downtown rhythm, with ferry visitors, live music and a good place to wait out a late boat.
What makes the Rotary Auction such a Bainbridge institution?
It is truly one of a kind. In Rotary, there is not anything else like it anywhere in the world. With about 2,000 volunteers, the community is as invested in it as Rotary is. Rotary collects the money, but we are really caretakers of it. Community grants are one way the proceeds go back into Kitsap County, and it is a privilege to help get those dollars into the hands of local nonprofits.
Be honest. What was your reaction when Beardbrand made you the No. 1 seed in the Midwest bracket?
My first thought was, “Why am I in the Midwest?” My second thought was, “Why am I number one?” But in a March Madness-style bracket, the region does not really matter. It had no relationship to where I live. It was a good spot to be, so I was not complaining.
How far did you think your beard would go?
My goal was to make the Sweet 16. I thought I would be overjoyed if I got that far. But then I kept winning. There were eight rounds, and every round meant asking people to vote again. I figured one of the younger competitors would win, especially the guy with the long, wavy red beard. But the momentum just kept building.
Has all the attention made you a local celebrity?
More like an old sage. The beard gets noticed at the grocery store, the Bainbridge rec center, the brewery and even when I travel internationally. Men will stop me with extremely specific questions. One guy even approached me in the middle of a meal at a restaurant to see if I had any secrets to share.
Finish this sentence: Bainbridge is best when...
People step in and help. The Rotary Auction is a perfect example; the sheer number of volunteers who return year after year still amazes me. We had a memorial at the brewery recently for a longtime regular, and the number of people who showed up was another reminder of the goodness here. People matter. That small-town goodness is what Bainbridge is all about.
