No Seasons, All Heart: Theo Castillo’s People-First Approach to Brewing

A nomadic brewery that started producing and distributing beer in South Florida just last year, No Seasons is already making waves—enough to land on our list of the “Best New Breweries of 2024.”

Although the brand is new, its founder and brewer, Theo Castillo, has a wealth of experience in the brewing industry. He honed his skills at J. Wakefield Brewing and Grimm Artisan Ales, creating beers like Industry Beer and Guava Waves, which caught fire in South Florida.

And Castillo now has another trophy to add to his pedigree, picking up a nomination for Brewer of the Year in VinePair’s Next Wave Awards, which spotlight the most imaginative, inclusive, and forward-thinking professionals across wine, beer, and spirits.

But despite his early success, Castillo stays incredibly humble, more appreciative for those around him who have given him the opportunities to grow.

It all boils down to No Season’s core commitment and three little words: “People and Beer.”

At No Seasons, named for the singular climate you’ll find year-round in Miami, great people come first, and good beer follows.

From World History Teacher to Master Brewer

Photography courtesy of No Seasons

When Castillo turned twenty-one, he went to YouTube University. Like many current younger drinkers, Castillo taught himself how to brew beer because he didn’t have the money to actually buy it.

However, the budding homebrewer wasn’t ready to commit. When he graduated as a political science major, instead of pursuing beer, he opted to teach ninth-grade world history.

“I knew right away,” he remembers, “that wasn’t for me.”

After only a year, he recalls clearly thinking: “You know what? Let me finally go all in trying to become a brewer.”

The ex-teacher went back to being a student, applying to every nearby brewery.

The only one to call him back?

J. Wakefield.

“I’ve definitely been very fortunate with the opportunities people have given me,” says Castillo humbly.

Starting as a bartender, Castillo snuck into the back any chance he had to help with bottling, packaging, and cleaning kegs.

The initiative-taker proved himself, so when one brewer moved on, Castillo stepped in and kept moving up the ladder. When another brewer left during the global pandemic, Castillo was the next in line to run brewing operations.

Over the course of three years at J. Wakefield, Castillo says he gained more than a decade of experience.

“I learned from some of the best in the industry,” he says. “My five years of brewing professionally now have felt like twenty.”

No Seasons to Four Seasons

But after three years at J. Wakefield, the bred-and-born Miamian, who had never lived outside the city, wanted a change.

“My main choice was New York City,” he says.

Fortune stepped in once again. When Castillo started applying for jobs up north, Grimm opened up their first-ever brewing position. Everyone applied.

“They weren’t even going to interview,” laughs Castillo, who bugged everyone he could think of to put in a good word.

After an interview with Grimm Co-Founders Joe and Lauren Grimm, Castillo landed the job. He worked there for two years and can’t speak highly enough of everything at Grimm.

“It felt like the perfect rounding off of my expertise,” says Castillo, “to make that jump into starting my own project.”

Photography courtesy of No Seasons

Four Seasons to No Seasons

Suppose New York City is miserable in the steamy heat of August, beautiful in the changing colors of fall, frustrating in the grey, slushy months of winter, and vibrant once again in spring. In that case, Miami is the opposite—a constantly hot, tropical climate.

“There are no seasons down here,” says Castillo, who felt the pull to go back to his hometown to start his own brand. “Well, one season: just really hot!”

With family all from Miami, Castillo felt building a brand back home would be authentic.

Castillo says the name represents the Miami he feels in his bones. (Although, if you’re looking for a deeper cut, Castillo admits that the name also comes from a high school best friend’s brother, whose band released a debut album of the same name.)

Honestly, the second reason for the name gives a deeper glance into the driving force behind Castillo’s brand.

Throughout our conversation, Castillo, who speaks passionately, consistently reminded me that he wouldn’t be where he is today without the graciousness and support of coworkers, friends, family, and others in the industry. People who have impacted him and the places he has worked.

“I felt there was no way that I could fail with the amazing people that I have in my corner with that, between my family, between my friends, between people in the industry,” says Castillo, who credits those around him for helping him achieve his success up to this date. “I’ve just been so fortunate to have the people around me be able to call some of the best people in the industry.”

Every day, the founder, brewer, designer, and marketer of No Seasons, a one-person operation, who wears all the hats in his business, reminds himself humbly that he has many to thank for his success.

It’s the core driver behind his brand’s motto, “People and Beer.” Something you’ll see on every single label and that can be found on merch, such as hats.

“It’s super simple,” says Castillo, who used to say something similar with a buddy while working at J. Wakefield. While that phrase, “People and Beer,” puts the drink first, Castillo wants No Seasons to alter the narrative. “I want to make a business that puts people first,” he shares.

Especially those in the industry, such as brewers, founders, digital artists, painters, graphic designers, DJs, musicians, and others. Having worked in the hospitality industry for so long, Castillo understands a lot of the thankless, unseen work that keeps a business running. At No Seasons, he now wants to celebrate those oft-forgotten folks.

“There’s a melting pot of creative people,” he says. “How can I give back to and create a platform to highlight the people in our industry?”

All through the lens of beer and bringing people together.

“I’m building a brand for us, by us,” says Castillo.

Industry Beer Made for Industry People

Photography courtesy of No Seasons

Castillo carries his motto through every beer he makes, including the incredibly popular and aptly named Industry Beer.

One of Castillo’s core beers, this American lager is “a beer that tastes like beer,” he says.

Made with American-grown and American-malted pilsner malt from Briess and fifteen percent Briess brown rice flakes, Industry Beer also gets gently hopped with American Saaz during the boil.

“It’s just a fine, modest lager,” says Castillo, who brewed it because he just wanted to drink a beer that tasted like beer—a good-quality one.

“You don’t have to think about it too much,” says Castillo, who thought about a beer like this that could encompass his whole brand for a very long time before starting No Seasons. “It’s a simple beer for simple folks like us!” says Castillo.

In addition to nailing lagers, Castillo has a deft hand with wheat beers and hops.

On the other side of the spectrum, No Seasons Lemon Waves and its more recent iteration Guava Waves have…well, made waves in Miami.

Castillo calls this series Florida wheat beers. The latter has a ton of guava added, which gives the ale a beautiful color, and a hazy IPA yeast to help the wheat beer finish dry “for the summer and the Florida weather,” says Castillo.

On the hoppy side, Castillo says he’s most excited about a new West Coast IPA called Phantom Coast.

Super clear and light in color, Phantom Coast uses New Zealand hops like Nelson for a take on the West Coast IPA that’s less Sierra Nevada-like and more San Diego-centric, according to Castillo.

And while hitting 8% ABV, Castillo assures us that this newer wave of West Coasters drinks light, crisp, and dry with some bitterness and fruitiness from the new school hop techniques he uses.

“It looks like Bud Light in the glass,” laughs Castillo, “but it’s a cool little nod to the West Coast IPA over here on the East Coast.”

For No Seasons, No Time Like Now

Photography courtesy of No Seasons

When Castillo spoke with Hop Culture a month ago, he was literally hopping off our Zoom call to sign the papers on taking over the old OFF SITE nano brewery and kitchen space in the Little River neighborhood of Miami.

Castillo had been helping OFF SITE Co-Founder and friend Steve Santana for the last year. When Santana approached Castillo with a desire to move on, he told him, “This is perfect; I already work here, and I know the neighborhood,” recalls Castillo. “This is the perfect next step.”

Castillo’s goal has always been to have a place small enough to keep his vision while staying nimble and “not have too many hands in the cookie jar,” he says.

When No Seasons takes over the space, Castillo will keep the food program, which he describes as “amazing bar food, but elevated.”

He’ll also inherit a little three-barrel system to mess around with.

“It’s the perfect canvas,” says Castillo, who plans to take the bare bones space and add a touch of local art, plants, cozy vibes, and his design.

For Castillo, who has only been in the industry for eight years, the chance to open a brick-and-mortar space for No Seasons seems “unreal.”

“But when I think about it, it feels right,” he says after a little pause. “When I think of all the people around me, when you add up all those people, it makes sense.”

At the end of the day, for Castillo and No Seasons, that’s what it always goes back to.

Not the awards he’s won or the recognition he’s received.

It all comes down to three little words: people and beer.