Delving into the Craft of Beer Making with Santiago Ampudia Vasquez, Brewer at Blackburn Brewhouse

Santiago Ampudia Vasquez is a brewer at Blackburn Brewhouse in Niagara Falls and an Assistant Professor at Niagara College. Before becoming a professional brewer, he earned a Master’s in Science and taught at the University of Barcelona. After moving to Canada, he shifted careers by enrolling in Niagara College’s Brewmaster program.

Since then, his brewing journey has been filled with achievements—including helping Niagara College win the top title at the 2023 U.S. Open College Beer Championship, where his rye Te-Toiset Bois Belgian Tripel earned a silver medal.

This episode is especially helpful if you want to understand what a brewer really does day-to-day, why yeast care and cleaning take up so much time, and how science and creativity come together to make beer. Santiago also shares the skills that make a great brewer, the joy of creating new beers, and a bit of beer history along the way.

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SHOWNOTES
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