Having volunteered at craft breweries and having been immersed in the awesome atmospheres they create, No matter where I go, I always find myself searching for new micro breweries to check out & help out at, and although I love volunteering for a day or two, I have been "itching" to get on with an apprenticeship of my own, where I could learn all brewery operations while working at a brewery longer term. So, through a volunteer exchange website helpx.net I found this brewery in Southern France looking for an apprentice brewers assistant.
At that very moment, I was traveling through the Cinque Terre in Italy, when I stumbled upon this posting and was close enough to catch the next train to France and start tomorrow! So I sent the brewery a message expressing my interest, passion for brewing and willingness to learn & start tomorrow. Of all of the messages they received from the posting, they chose me for the brewers apprentice and gave me a thumbs-up-reply to come asap! So, just a few hours later, I boarded the next train to France...a seemingly least likely place for a micro brewery!
When I arrived at the train station, I was picked up by the brewer Eric, in a 1970's vintage brewery van that was loaded with kegs to be delivered in the same day. He had a big smile, despite handling (practically) all aspects of the brewery alone AND in the high season. We arrive at the brewery, I get out and he gives me the tour of the place and tells me what we will be working on together. In two more days we would be brewing their award willing Blonde Kolsch for the upcoming festival season. I then take a walk around the outside of the brewery and am amazed at the beauty of the surroundings...A midieval coastal village on the Mediterranean surrounded by vineyards, ocean & oyster/mussels farms. Thats when I thought to myself.."Great! I can live here, make beer and be inspired by nature and a new culture, all at the same time!" This long awaited dream of being a brewers apprentice was really happening!
Many brew days later, a total of three months have passed, and I am now in charge of all the Brewing operations. Still brewing, still inspired, and still having a great time...Hmmm...Seems like a career worth pursuing! After 3 months apprenticing at the brewery, I am now qualified to apply to master brewing schools, so I thought I'd put myself out there a little more, and I applied to the upcoming VLB-Berlin, 6 month long Master Brewer Certification course. A few days later, I received a reply from the teacher stating that they were too full for the 2014 course and I would be put on a waiting list. I was really bummed, but figured it could be a good chance to push myself into some brewing projects at the brewery I was already at. Then, in just a few weeks time, I got a reply from the school stating they had an opening and I was next for the open slot! The course starts in January 2014 and will bring me and my wife to the great city of Berlin! I am starting an Indiegogo.com fundraising campaign to help pay for my course. Meanwhile...Here are some pictures from the France Brewery Apprenticeship...Stay tuned for what is yet to come!
Filtering beer the archaic way!
