My real introduction to good beer came in 2005 during a month long study abroad in the Czech Republic where a pint of Pilsner Urquell cost less than a glass of water (so you can imagine how that semester went). I spent the remainder of my years at Western Michigan University alternately educating myself in creative writing & Japanese (my majors) and the procurement and consumption of every craft beer I could get my hands on.
Meanwhile, at home, my (newly enlightened) father had also switched from his trusty Molson XXX to a handful of Michigan craft beers, and together we set out on a journey to hit every Michigan craft brewery (I’m currently at 144!) before deciding about 3 years ago to foray into home brewing as well (maybe not your typical daddy/daughter bonding activity)! I joined Fermenta early this year and also enrolled in Schoolcraft’s brewing & distillation technology program last winter in hopes to connect with other craft beer aficionados, expand my knowledge of the industry as a whole beyond just brewing, and hopefully find a niche for myself within it.
When I’m not brewing, I’m currently working as a materials/supply chain manager at RCO Engineering. In my free time I like to throw barbells around, cook fancy food (go figure – recipe design is my favorite part of brewing!), and travel literally anywhere I can drum up an excuse to go.
My introduction to craft beer came in 2003 when a friend decided that my husband needed to learn to homebrew. Over the years I assisted in the process and helped with the decisions of what to brew. I joined the Ann Arbor Brewers Guild and the Detroit Draft Divas and got to brew my first beer (as opposed to being an assistant brewer) for Rat Fest.
I was introduced to mead at a Brewers Guild meeting and was hooked! I have been making mead for about three years now. I started working at Adventures in Homebrewing about 1 ½ years ago and am the resident “mead person” for the Ann Arbor store. I joined Fermenta about the same time that I started working at the store. I joined because I really like the opportunities to network that Fermenta affords me. I am also on the events committee and am enjoying being involved in that capacity.
Continuing Education Opportunity: Schoolcraft College Wine 101
I first started appreciating craft beer by meeting my boyfriend after work for a pint at a local brewery after a busy day doing what I do best - teaching high school students! Meeting and speaking with the head brewer sparked our interest in craft beer, so we started attending tastings at various venues. Over the course of a year, I observed my boyfriend homebrewing and decided I’d like to give it a try. That was six years ago, and I’ve been an avid homebrewer ever since!
I became a certified beer judge in 2013 and have judged at many homebrewing competitions. I’ve attended the last four National Homebrewer’s Conferences in Seattle, Philadelphia, Grand Rapids, and San Diego. In the summer of 2015, I was elected to the office of President of my homebrew club, C.R.A.F.T., based out of Clinton Township, MI. and have been happily presiding over the club since then. I joined Fermenta to further my knowledge about brewing through Fermenta’s events. In my free time I enjoy reading, comic books, writing, traveling, and sampling all of the delicious beer that the world has to offer.
Continuing Education Opportunity: Beer Camp- Beer Camp takes participants through the process of brewing a small batch of American Pale Ale educating on the basics of beer brewing.
I am fairly new to home brewing, having only began a few years ago when I received a Mr. Beer kit from my lovely fiancee. I am hoping to continue educating myself and gaining experience in brewing, so that I can seek a Certificate of Fermentation Science here at CMU. I would love to work in the industry and help produce well-crafted beers and ciders for my friends, family, and the larger craft beer community. When I am not brewing, I work as an Administrative Secretary at Central Michigan University and volunteer as an assistant martial arts instructor.
Continuing Education Opportunity: BeerSavvy Online- BeerSavvy® is an interactive eLearning program covering key content for the Certified Beer Server exam
I discovered craft beer while studying English Literature at U of M in Ann Arbor, where my favorite study groups met over pints at Ashley’s. I now call Detroit home, and work at 8 Degrees Plato Beer Company, a craft beer retail store with 16 beers on tap. I am also a freelance writer in the beer world, with regular columns for MittenBrew and Detroit Beer Press. I joined Fermenta to build relationships with women in the industry, to learn from their expertise, and to take part in new experiences through the group’s events. In my free time, you can find me rock climbing, running, or otherwise enjoying great beer in Michigan’s great outdoors.
Continuing Education Opportunity: Zingerman’s Sensational Scotch Seminar
Continuing Education Opportunity: Beer Camp- Beer Camp takes participants through the process of brewing a small batch of American Pale Ale educating on the basics of beer brewing.