I want to thank so many people for pushing me into a new career. I want to thank Nate and everybody from Family Business Beer Co. for being amazing and reminding me what craft beer can be - a family.
I want to thank Tony for taking a chance on someone who knew next to nothing about beer or brewing on this kind of scale. For teaching me all that he could in such a short time and during a freaking pandemic.
I want to thank the women, especially my mom, who encouraged me along the way.
I want to thank my family and friends for believing in me. I want to thank my partner, Greg, for being so proud of me before I even officially became the AB at MudHen Brewing Co. He was gushing to people in Santa Fe about me while I shyly drank my beer on our 5th anniversary trip.
I had no idea where this path would take me, but I knew it would be a good journey. And it has been. I've met so, so many people in this industry who are accepting and lovely people. I think that's what I love so much about craft beer - the utter community of it all. No matter what you brew, or what your role is, the community is there.
Sometimes, we take a path and discover somewhere along the way that it's not ours to take. So, we diverge and try again.
I've been taking new paths again and again since leaving my home in 2014. Some of them were good paths, but most were not. And what is life if not a journey to find where you belong? This assistant brewer path has been arduous, yet exhilarating. I loved showing up to work to just get things done. Whether it was as menial as cleaning kegs or something like racking over a beer I've never racked over before, there was always something to learn. Something to take away. Something to get to know (I'm looking at you, Holly Beach Wheat). Something to feel proud of. It was a constant learning environment and I've always learned best doing things hands-on, preferably repetitive.
I'm sad to say my journey at MudHen has come to an end, but I wish them all the best. The beer is amazing, the food is terrific, and the staff love their craft. Each and every one of them has passion for this and there's no place like it in Wildwood. There never will be, either.
I'm so thankful, so grateful for the opportunities afforded me and the education I've received.
