Lev Katsouba
CEO and Draft Specialist of DC Clean (Draft Choice)
Lev Katsouba is the CEO and Draft Specialist of DC Clean part of Draft Choice, New York City's premier Draft Beer installation and maintenance company. Between installing and cleaning more than 300 draft systems across the Big Apple, Lev conducts beer system training courses for bar and restaurant staff.
Lev's love for all things beer started at the age of 20 when he was handed his first homebrewed beer. Eager to learn everything about the golden liquid he began brewing his own beer with his eyes set on opening his own brewery. To learn more about the world's third favorite drink he started working at a small local craft beer distributor where he learned about the different varieties of beers and the community.
During his time at the distributor, Lev got involved in the hands-on of what goes into pouring the perfect pint and saw a gap in the market - clean and proper beer systems use. He then decided to create his own in-house professional homebrewer draft systems where he met his current business partner Anton Baraneko. Anton had just started Draft Choice and was in need of some help to get things up and running.
The two spent the next few years in basements, behind bars, and in walk-in coolers helping bars and restaurants maintain their draft systems. But the duo found that cleaning the current systems wasn't enough to help the industry continue providing top-quality beer. So, the duo changed their approach to how they installed draft beer systems, how they maintained them and what quality of materials they used.
Along the way, other draft options joined the taps including wine, coffee, cocktails, and even soy sauce. Soon enough, Lev went from apprentice to mentor and took on his own team of eager draft beer enthusiasts to see Draft Choice help some of the top breweries in the USA install beer systems including Hill Farmstead, Grimm Ales, Brooklyn Brewery and Veil Brewery.
