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Beer mentoring at Marquette University
You might have gotten some experience with beer in college but probably not like this.
MILWAUKEE - You might have gotten some experience with beer in college but probably not like this. Some Marquette University students are brewing up their own business.
"The fact we can actually brew a beer market it and sell it as our own is incredible. I never thought I’d do this," said Stella Quinlan, Marquette senior.
From start to smooth finish, a group of Marquette students are tasked with bringing a beer to life.
"The best way to learn is to do," Quinlan said.
"What better place to brew beer, too, I mean this is like the beer state," said Sarah Richardson, Marquette senior.
"It’s authentically Milwaukee and uniquely Marquette," said John Knapp, Innovation Alley Executive Director.
As part of an applied learning program, five students, aged at least 21, met at Broken Bat Brewery Tuesday, Oct. 24. They're the second crew to run the business, Blue & Gold Brewing.
"To watch all the transformation from the start to end is incredible. I don’t think it’s something you get in most classroom environments," Knapp said.
"We’ve got a great team, great ideas, flowing right now," Quinlan said.
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As they pour themselves into the venture, they have some help from three local breweries – and new this year, a surprise mentor. Students gave a warm welcome for a man behind many a cold one.
"When we had our first meeting for the brewing team we were asked what our favorite style or type of beer was and I immediately said Leinenkugel and everyone was laughing and now I know why," said Lisa Gandolfi, Marquette senior.
Marquette graduate Dick Leinenkugel is the recently retired president of family business, Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company.
"I was able to pass it along to the sixth generation in my family, my nephew," Leinenkugel said.
Dick Leinenkugel
Now he will help teach a new generation – passing on the recipe for success.
"Work harder than anybody else," Leinenkugel said. "Have fun. Remember, we’re not saving lives in the beer industry."
Dick Leinenkugel
"I think he’s going to give us fantastic advice we wouldn’t get otherwise," Gandolfi said.
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The students are still in the beginning states of designing their beer, but keep an eye out for it, it’s coming in February.
In the program's first year, students behind Blue & Gold Brewing launched '77 Golden Ale, which sold out at a Marquette basketball game.