Lizard Tail tries to stay optimistic while facing ‘brutal’ reality of growing pains

The last time we checked in with Lizard Tail Brewing, things were looking up after the brewery purchased and revamped the former Cantero Brewing, had plans to open multiple taprooms from Nob Hill to Four Hills to Mesa Del Sol, and was even ready to start canning and distributing beers.

When I caught up with owner Dan Berry and head brewer John Ruyak earlier this week for our Look Back/Look Ahead Series, the tone had shifted quite a bit, as the stark reality of doing business in a pandemic world had taken quite a bite out of their plans and optimistic outlook.

“It was pretty brutal, to be honest,” Berry said of the last eight months. “Honestly, we’ve gone through a lot of staff. We lost the whole kitchen staff, we lost some servers. … And, Nob Hill has just been one thing after another. There’s construction down there now. It looked like in January we were

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