{"id":29875,"date":"2022-05-25T01:00:32","date_gmt":"2022-05-25T08:00:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/?p=29875"},"modified":"2022-05-26T11:27:10","modified_gmt":"2022-05-26T18:27:10","slug":"hops-among-friends-martina-solano-bielen-of-kpu-brew-lab","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/bcaletrail.ca\/hops-among-friends-martina-solano-bielen-of-kpu-brew-lab\/","title":{"rendered":"Hops Among Friends: Martina Solano Bielen of KPU Brew Lab"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the latest installment in the Hops Among Friends<\/a> series, which showcases the people that make up the craft beer scene on the BC Ale Trail. In this edition, Kim Lawton interviews Martina Solano Bielen from KPU.<\/h2>\n
\"Martina
Martina Solano Bielen at KPU in Langley on the Fraser Valley Ale Trail<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I spoke with Ashley Brooks<\/a>, the Quality Control Manager at Four Winds Brewing<\/a> in my most recent Hops Among Friends interview. At the end of our discussion, Ashley selected who I would interview next. She chose Martina Solano Bielen from Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU)<\/a> and the KPU Brew Lab<\/a>. KPU\u2019s Brewing and Brewery Operations program offers BC\u2019s only Brewing Diploma program and was the first brewing program in Canada recognized by the Master Brewers Association of the Americas (MBAA) for a standard of excellence in brewing education.\u00a0The KPU Brew Lab was established in 2015 in Langley on the Fraser Valley Ale Trail<\/a>.<\/p>\n

It was a fascinating conversation with Martina. I really enjoyed learning more about the Brewing Diploma program at KPU, their hands-on learning, and the brewing projects the students complete. It provides an exciting look at the future of BC\u2019s craft beer industry.<\/p>\n

Kim: How did you get your start in craft beer?<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Martina:<\/strong> I have my master\u2019s degree in microbiology, which I received from McGill University in Montreal. One of my colleagues at the time was doing his PhD in microbiology and he was also a big home brewer. It was the first time I had seen someone home brewing, and I got really interested in brewing. When I finished my degree, I decided that I wanted to apply my knowledge in the brewing field. I thought it would be a cool industry to be a part of and I was excited to use my knowledge of microbiology to make beer.<\/p>\n

While I was doing my degree in Montreal, I also did some mentoring, and I was doing some teaching in labs that I really enjoyed. So, when the opening came up at KPU in the microbiology and chemistry part of the brewing program, it felt like a great way to get into the scene. My then-boyfriend, now husband, was from BC, so we moved to BC in 2015 and I started working at KPU soon after. It was a perfect fit for me to be both teaching and working in the brewing field.<\/p>\n