For Jonathan Brown, coming to NC was an opportunity to take an already successful brewing career to the next level.
Before coming to NC, Jonathan was already working full-time as the head brewer at a small brewery. Looking to expand his knowledge and accelerate his career, he enrolled in NC’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program to deepen his understanding of brewing science and brewery operations.
His hard work and academic excellence will be recognized at this morning’s Spring Convocation ceremony where he will receive he Dean’s Award for the School of Wine, Beer and Spirits. Graduating with an outstanding 93.94 per cent average, he distinguished himself both in the classroom and within the brewing industry.
“I got into brewing as a hobby,” said Brown. “What started as just doing something different turned into a full-blown passion and it became my mission to learn everything I could about beer.”
Throughout the program, he balanced family responsibilities, demanding coursework, and a daily commute that averaged six hours on public transit. Despite these challenges, he remained focused on building the skills needed to succeed in an evolving industry.
One of the highlights of his experience was learning alongside classmates and industry experts while developing a broader understanding of what it takes to run a successful brewery.
Now working as a production brewer after securing a position just three days after completing his final exam, he is looking forward to continuing his career while taking some time to focus on family and work toward his future goals as a brewer.
Q&A with Jonathan Brown
How do you feel about your upcoming convocation day? What does it personally mean to you?
Sad that my chapter at NC is over, excited for the future, and grateful for the connections I made during my time at NC.
What led you to study at NC and to your program of study?
I was looking for ways to enhance my knowledge and help accelerate my career. An opportunity to attend NC presented itself and I took full advantage of it.
What interests you in / why are you passionate about your field of study?
Knowing that I don’t know everything about beer fuels my drive to be better and constantly evolve professionally and as an ambassador of everything beer represents.
Do you have a specific career goal in mind when you enrolled in your program? Did it change since you started?
I knew I wanted to get better at what I was doing. As an older student, I needed to think not only about the next five years but what the next twenty looked like.
My only goal was to position myself in a way where I could fulfill a variety of roles within the industry and tailor my career to the challenges life throws at me.
How did you find your program experience – any highlights?
The people involved in the Brewmaster program are outstanding at what they do. The context provided by professors Rob Doyle, Adrian Popowycz, Nate Ferguson, and Brewmaster Jon Downing ensured that we didn’t just cover the curriculum but opened our eyes to the issues and challenges facing the industry both now and in the future.
What did you find rewarding about your program / area of study? Does something stand out to you that you will never forget about your time at NC?
Studying beer is fun but my fellow graduating comrades made the journey much more enjoyable. Each of their unique perspectives helped contribute to our collective success while forging friendships that will last a lifetime.
Did you face and overcome any challenges to graduate?
I faced a few challenges while attending NC. Juggling family responsibilities with my studies was no easy task. When you add in the fact that I spent an average of six hours commuting via transit every day, I had to be incredibly careful with how I spent my time, often sacrificing time with family in order to work on assignments.
What have you been doing since you completed your studies at NC?
I was very fortunate. I began looking for opportunities in February and applied to several positions. I was presented with multiple employment opportunities and began working as a production brewer just three days after my final exam.
Any advice for future students?
To all current and future students, I have two pieces of advice. One, go after what you want and be unapologetic in the pursuit of your dreams. Secondly, be kind to people, every interaction you have is like a job interview. You never know what opportunities will come out of impressing other people.
