OUR Beer expertS
Female members of several brewing and developmental teams to come down
and hang out with us for the day. There will be a bunch of beers to try and a chance
to discuss women in the brewing industry.
and hang out with us for the day. There will be a bunch of beers to try and a chance
to discuss women in the brewing industry.
LEAVEN BREWING
COMPANY
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JILLIAN LYNCH | CO-OWNER
My craft beer story really starts with my Dad, who always kept microbrews in the fridge when I was young. He was a cool Dad who sought out Anchor Steam, Red Seal and Sam Adam’s brews before they were really popular. I always appreciated the artwork on the labels and used to draw them, I know … I was an odd child. Inevitably my 21st birthday arrives and I had my heart set on drinking my first craft beer. Unfortunately (but fortunately) for me, my first sip of alcohol was an Imperial 8.2% Stone Ruination. I remember the bartender asking me “are you sure, you’ve had this before right?” I lied, I didn’t tell him I was a newbie to craft beer but my face probably gave it away. Dad taught me that it was rude to waste anything so I drank it, not yet appreciating the citrus and pine hops. Fast forward a few years to a craft beer bar in town, they knew me by name and I knew every beer in their cooler. What I didn’t know was that I would meet my husband there. Beer has always been central to our story. We fell in love over a beer, got married at a brewery and my brewer husband soon tagged me in on the production end of this craft I had greatly grown a passion for. Present day I am the owner, alongside my husband, of Leaven Brewing Company in Riverview, FL. Formerly a burnt-out elementary school teacher, I am now running a small operation of my own just outside of Tampa. “There no sense in being unhappy” was the phrase my husband encouraged me to quit my teaching job with. Leaven was born out of being uncomfortable, and with that came the conception of starting our own brewery. I spent my time soon after the big decision sitting on the 19th floor of the Hillsborough County building. Me, some construction workers, architects and building inspectors all vying for the time of the planning agency. To say I stood out would be an understatement. Without the genius of KJ, my lovely brewer husband, Leaven wouldn’t be what it is today. I think we’re a pretty great team. I focus more on the business end of the brewery - but don’t think for a second I’m not up on the brew deck any chance I get. Seems to me that I get all of the glamorous brewery jobs … let’s just say that I am *really* good at graining out. |
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