"You're crazy!"
"Do you have any idea what you are doing?"
"If I didn't know you, I would think you are a woman obsessed with beer!"
These are only a few of the many comments and questions I have received since saying over a year ago, "I want to switch careers, go back to school for two years, and open up a microbrewery." For those of you who know me, when I put my mind to something, I put my mind to something! That is the purpose of my blog, to encourage you to come along on my journey to open up a microbrewery in hopes of giving you inspiration to do something you love too...no matter what age!
I can vividly remember the second I was hit over the head with what seemed like a 2 x 4 beginning this journey. It happened October 1, 2014 on an extremely foggy wet cold day in Whitefish, MT. Friends from Iowa were visiting, so Glacier National Park, was our adventure for the day. As we got higher and higher on Going to the Sun Road, our view became obscured by the dense fog and clouds. Our visibility was pretty much nil. We could have been anywhere. The breathtaking views of Glacier were non existent. What else could we do? Hmmmmm...go find a microbrewery down off the mountain?
What happened that day at Great Northern Brewery in Whitefish, MT changed my life.
I walked out of the restroom, of all places, and across the hall was an open door leading to a laboratory. Test tubes, beakers, a centrifuge, and a microscope. Being a Microbiology major and having worked in a lab, I was curious so I peaked my head in and in a very nerdy and almost embarrassing way, I got excited! Downstairs, I watched through the tall glass wall, a young brewer, Kyle Gregorash, at work in the brewhouse. I was intrigued to say the least. Kyle was kind enough to take a few moments with me explaining how he majored in history, and got his experience in brewing from his Dad at the age of 8. He continued to talk about all the varieties of hops (I thought, uh), malt (as in malted milk balls..yum), mashing, (potatoes?) and the microbiology behind it. MICROBIOLOGY! That language I understood. I love microbiology and I love craft beer. BAM! And the rest is history. I owe a huge thank you to Kyle, who I have personally thanked for changing my life. You never know how your time, talents and words will effect someone.
Thanks to Kyle, I Googled schools in California, and found UCSD Extension Brewing Certification Program. I am now enrolled in my third quarter, and under the instruction of some major brewers, CEO's and names in the San Diego craft beer industry. I need to pinch myself daily knowing I'm going to do this! I really don't know exactly how, but I am going to do this! I So let's do it together because many hands makes work light, right? I'll be asking for your suggestions and feedback routinely. Check back every Friday for a new post...ranging from interviews with head brewers, industry leaders, how beer drinking can be healthy, and other fun topics. You won't regret it.
I strongly encourage each and everyone of you, no matter how silly or far out your ideas seem to be either you or the rest of the world, if it is a personal dream or a passion...move forward with it. Now! Life is short. You don't ever want the word "regret" to be in your vocabulary.
Cheers!