A stay-at-home dad is the first recipient of a brewing scholarship established to honor brewing legend Karl Strauss. Karl Strauss Brewing in San Diego estblished the Brewer’s Education fund in 2009. Now it is partnering with the UC San Diego Extension Brewing Program to fund an annual scholarship. “Karl was passionate about education and he believed that brewing was a delicate balance of art and science — and only when you mastered the science could you indulge in the art,†said Karl Strauss brewmaster. “I attended the Brewing Science Program at UC Davis and I am stoked that we can pay it forward by helping others achieve their dreams to be part of our thriving brewing industry.”
Seguar announced Frank Yepiz, Chula Vista resident and lifelong San Diegan, will be the first to use the scholarship. “Frank has an amazing story that immediately resonated with us,” Segura said. “Here’s a guy who wants to make a life change and we have the unique opportunity to make that dream come true.”
A stay-at-home dad to two young daughters, Frank was pursuing his undergraduate degree in physics at UCSD before making the decision to be at home with his girls. Frank stumbled into the world of beer via bread baking — he wanted to provide healthier food for his family and began baking his own bread and eventually propagating his own yeast cultures.
The world of fermentation quickly expanded into homebrewing and Frank knew he wanted to be part of the local craft beer industry. “I heard about the Karl Strauss scholarship on the radio and I applied. I never thought I would actually get it, so I didn’t even tell my wife I applied. I am so grateful and excited to have this amazing opportunity,” Yepiz said.
The company will offer a second brewing scholarship this fall, and a subsequent annual scholarship beginning in 2015. For more information about the Karl Strauss Brewers Education Fund, visit www.karlstrauss.com.