Nathalie is a recent graduate of the Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program at Niagara College and the first recipient of the Dominion City Beer. Diversity. Scholarship. We are so thrilled to have her join the team.
"To me, this internship represents an opportunity to start my career in the brewing industry. It has given me the chance to meet and connect with great people from the industry and I am very thankful."
Nathalie arrived in Canada at the age of 13 with her Mom as refugees from Colombia. They settled in London, ON and built their life here in Canada.
A trained chef and someone passionate about flavour, Nat's path to beer started years ago at Pub Milos in London. Long home to a thoughtfully created beer list, Nat remembers the moment she tasted Mill Street Cobblestone Stout as being pivotal. It happened at a time when she associated beer with low-flavour macro-lager and it opened her mind about what beer could be. The flavour and texture of the stout reminded her of a dark Colombian soda from her childhood called 'Pony Malta' that she drank with school lunches. It wasn't long before Nat and her partner John were seeking out new styles and beers; her passion led her to home brewing and eventually to apply as a brewing student at Niagara College.
She believes diversity is a vital concern for the beer industry and feels strongly that new people bring fresh, creative ideas to bear on old ways of doing things.
"The craft beer boom will eventually reach its peak and in order to keep momentum going, we must be able to reach all different types of consumers."
ABOUT THE DOMINION CITY BEER. DIVERSITY SCHOLARSHIP
Together with Ren Navarro of Beer.Diversity. and Niagara College, we established the Dominion City Beer. Diversity. Scholarship. in 2019.
This scholarship is awarded annually to one outstanding senior level student in the Niagara College Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program with a background presently underrepresented in the brewing industry.