Aaron Brussat (right) with the godfather of homebrewing Charlie Papazian (left)
From an outstanding group of talented applicants, the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation has selected former New School Beer writer and current Claim 52 Brewing brewer Aaron Brussat as the recipient of the 2024 American Brewers Guild scholarship.
The Falconer Foundation is dedicated to promoting knowledge and expertise in the craft brewing industry in memory and honor of the beloved Eugene, Oregon Brewer Glen Hay Falconer who passed away in a tragic accident in 2002. Since 2004 the foundation has granted 57 prestigious brewing scholarships to some of the most promising brewers in the country, many of whom have went on to legendary careers.
Brussat is a long-standing member of the Cascade Brewers Society homebrew club, with over a decade of prolific homebrewing and experience in organizing events and education. Brussat started his career in the industry working at a homebrew supply shop and became a nationally ranked BJCP beer judge. As a certified cicerone, steward and assistant buyer at Eugene, Oregon’s great beer bar/bottle shop The Bier Stein he emceed beer pairing dinners, developed the “Beer Flight School” education program, did community outreach, and helped organize the Bier Stein Invitational Brew Fest. He also pursued a career in journalism writing for Oregon Beer Growler magazine, and as editor of the Northwest Brewing News paper, before joining New School Beer. As one of the most thoughtful beer experts in the New School’s 15 year history, Brussat was already one of the foremost beer experts in Oregon even before he decided to pursue a career as a professional brewer.
Aaron Brussat began his pro brewing career at Springfield, Oregon’s Planktown Brewing in 2021, and in May of 2024 accepted the role of innovation brewer at Claim 52 Brewing. This was his impetus to apply for the scholarship.
Claim 52 Brewing owner Jeremiah Marsden (left) and innovation brewer Aaron Brussat (right)
Aaron will be attending the American Brewing Guild (ABG) Intensive Brewing Science & Engineering (IBS&E) course that runs from January to June 2025. The Intensive Brewing Science & Engineering course is a 22-week distance education program with a final week of residential instruction in Middlebury, VT. The course covers all the fundamentals of beer production and quality assurance with a special emphasis on practical issues.
How long have you been brewing and what was your first beer?
Aaron Brussat: I started homebrewing in 2005, which is easy to remember since it was around the same time that Liz and I started dating. My Dad and I picked up an extract kit of an English-style IPA over winter break of my junior year in college; it included a little baggie of toasted oak chips! For authenticity, no doubt. It didn’t suck, my friends said.
Did you ever meet Glen Hay Falconer? What do you think his legacy is?
Aaron Brussat: Unfortunately, I arrived in Eugene six years too late to meet Glen. When I joined Cascade Brewers Society, they had a “new member” night, and I went, all bright eyed and whatnot, and Chris Studach or someone had brought along a keg of Belgian Quad that Glen had brewed, I think at the Wild Duck. So it was at least seven years old, probably older. We all tasted it, and were just floored. That was my introduction to his legacy, in a very appropriate way, with his old homebrew buddies getting me drunk on his beer.
Not long after that I went to my first Sasquatch Brew Fest, the last year it was held in Kesey Square. It was a hoot. But over the years of going to the fests, judging and organizing the homebrew competition (I’m still indebted to Tripp for that one time…), and then seeing my friends and coworkers be honored with scholarships and move deeper into their careers, I think Glen’s legacy is twofold. On one hand, the Falconer Foundation carries his legacy on in a heartfelt, practical way through the scholarship program. The family is still involved and present, and that makes it really special.
The other, connected side of that is really a vibe. Glen was a big personality, as I’ve heard in stories, totally ready for shenanigans. And he was also deeply connected to the beer community here in Eugene, and had a philosophy, which he wrote down and I’ve read, about how Beer can be this great unifying thing (kinda like the Zappa line “Music is the best.”). I really identify with that, since obviously I’ve carved my niche here too, but I think it’s something I want to shout from the rooftops and beat people over the head with (kindly): beer is a tool for community building, a sensual sensory element that we can use to commune with others in many different ways. The industry part of it right now is wrapped up in market stability and marketing and hype; those are all real, but they’re not the central thing. Glen knew that.
What does receiving the scholarship mean to you, and are there any past brewers who have received this honor that inspired you or you look up to?
Aaron Brussat: Well, when Quentin Falconer called me with the news, my face got all hot and I was dancing around the back room of the Claim 52 Kitchen. Going through the application process, filling out the essays, I had to lay out all the different things I’ve done in beer; I had to promote myself, which isn’t my favorite thing to do. It was a good exercise, though, because I felt like “damn, I’m pretty proud of what I’ve done,” regardless of whether or not I got the scholarship.
To receive the scholarship feels extremely validating, and is a huge honor. I’m standing on the shoulders of giants. Going back through the list of scholarship recipients, there are lots of familiar names in there. I’ve known Dan Russo since he worked at the Rogue in Eugene. Watching his trajectory through Oakshire, from building out the Public House to taking over as head brewer from Matt Van Wyk, and then going all out with his barrel program and ultimately helping guide the brewery to where it is now – that’s impressive. When I started at Claim 52, it became clear to me that I could really benefit from extra education. Dan got the same scholarship in 2013, so that’s what I applied for.
When I got hired on at Plank Town, Bre Goulette hadn’t yet gone to Chicago for the Siebel course since it was deferred due to Covid, but I think she had the hop hat at least. She was my mentor into the commercial side; that is, she showed me the processes, laid out the order of operations for how things were done, and taught me how to properly clean a tank. She was patient with my endless questions. Over my three years there, we became close friends and worked really well together. She showed me what a good work ethic looks like, even when it means running away for a pint.
For someone who is already a seasoned professional brewer, what do you hope to get out of the scholarship program?
Aaron Brussat: I don’t know about seasoned (unless it’s with Old Bay), I’ve only been big kid brewing since 2021. I will say that for all of the sensory experience, recipe development, and other little skills I’m working on, there are some fundamental pieces – tools in the toolbox – that I still need. Some of that will come with more time, like rebuilding a heat exchanger. What I’m looking for is the bones, the raw physics and chemistry of brewing. It’s like, as a musician I can know chords and scales, and then I can learn theory that increases my capacity to create what I want. Same thing.
Aaron Brussat on a press trip to Vancouver Island BC in 2018
How intensive is the American Brewers Guild course and how excited or nervous are you for the adventure?
Aaron Brussat: I mean, it’s called the Intensive Brewing Science & Engineering program. That makes me nervous! I haven’t done real school for almost 20 years, so I feel more than a little rusty. But it won’t be like the dream where you show up to a class just in time for the final exam that you didn’t know anything about.
I’m also excited and curious to meet my classmates and professors, and get into the lectures and make a ritual out of learning this stuff. It’s a distance program except for the last week in Vermont, so I’ll have to do some serious time management.
If you could come back from the course and be better at just one thing, what would it be?
Aaron Brussat: Brewing! Haha. That’s a great question. The answer for me must be science. I think I’m going to get my ass kicked in the first few weeks because I don’t know a lot of academic biology and chemistry. Having the practical application as part of that learning will definitely help it make sense and stick in my brain.
The Selection Committee certainly saw in Aaron a depth of talent and experience, noting “his long track record of advocacy for brewing and his commitment to further the goals of the foundation made him the obvious choice. All the more impressive given the caliber of the other applicants.” Aaron brings a unique perspective with such a breadth of experience, as another committee member stated “he has long been client facing, talking to homebrewers and beer lovers and more importantly listening to them. He is one of the more dialed-in candidates we’ve seen in many years.”
One of the most impressive aspects of Aaron’s journey is that he has had so much support and help along the way. “In a very humble fashion, he acknowledges the tremendous support others have bestowed along the way which gives him a deeply personal desire and commitment to supporting others who are beginning their journey and to continuing to give back to his community.” Echoing that sentiment, another Selection Committee member added “Aaron shows immense respect and dedication to the Eugene and Oregon beer communities and the legacy of Glen that makes him a fantastic choice for this year’s ABG scholarship.” “The candidate pool was impressive but Aaron’s commitment to craft beer and brewing and his diverse contributions to his beer communities helped him rise to the top.” We all congratulate Aaron on the next step in his career and one that will bring the science and technical fundamental to his clear passion and creativity in brewing.
The American Brewers Guild is a premier school for the craft brewing industry dedicated to providing a comprehensive learning experience that focuses on the technical, scientific, and operational matters and issues that brewers face in a craft brewing environment. We offer our deepest gratitude to American Brewers Guild for its long-standing and continuing support for the Foundation’s brewing education scholarship program.
Join us in thanking the Selection Committee of Jamie Floyd (Ninkasi Brewing), Lisa Morrison (Belmont Station Bottle Shop & Biercafé), Steve Parkes (American Brewers Guild), Dan Russo (Oakshire Brewing), and Brett Thomas (Sunriver Brewing) who were given the difficult decision of selecting a single recipient from a deep and talented group of deserving candidates.
A special thanks to Yakima Chief Hops whose spectacularly successful Falconer’s Flight® hop blend not only has vastly spread the word about brewing education but also provided the necessary long-term financial support to help underwrite our brewing scholarship program.
the late great Glen Hay Falconer
For more information on the Glen Hay Falconer Foundation, visit www.glenfalconerfoundation.org and follow us on Instagram and Facebook.
A pacific northwest based webmag covering the craft beer and cider industry.