Deschutes Brewery is tapping a former executive for the company that makes Budweiser. Kris Scholl will serve as Technical Director for the Bend brewery.

Scholl joins Deschutes after spending 16 years with Anheuser-Busch/Inbev. As director of global brewing and quality for Asia and Latin America, Scholl oversaw operations at 70 breweries.

Michael LaLonde, chief operating officer with Deschutes, believes Scholl’s mix of experience and education, as well as his passion for craft beer, make him the right fit for the job.

“It’s really hard to find that kind of combination,” LaLonde says. “And as we continue to expand our operations, we really need somebody that can provide the vision on how we can continue to brew the best quality beer we can possibly brew and do it consistently.”

LaLonde says in the next year the brewery is expected to complete the second phase of an expansion that will nearly double its brewing capacity. Deschutes beer is now sold in 20 states. The company just started doing business in the Chicago market about a week and a half ago.