Abita Brewing Announces Director Of Brewing Operations
Abita Springs, LA – The Abita Brewing Company is pleased to announce Jaime Jurado will join the company as Director of Brewing Operations, effective November 2013. Jaime comes to Abita after nearly 15 years as Director of Brewing Operations for The Gambrinus Company breweries, the respected family-owned brewing organization focused on fine beers, which includes Spoetzl Brewery, BridgePort Brewing Company, and Trumer Brauerei Berkeley.
“Jaime has a tremendous amount of education and experience,” said David Blossman, president of Abita Brewing. “I created this new position to help Abita become even more efficient, consistent and maintain the commitment weʼve always had to quality before quantity.”
“Iʼm pleased to join the Abita team,” said Jurado. “I look forward to working with veteran Master Brewer Mark Wilson and his colleagues increasing development of new beers on the pilot brewing system, expanding sustainability and benefitting from the considerable talent and know-how of the Abita team.”
Most recently, Jurado completed an 18-month working sabbatical applying novel ideas germane to sustainability improvements at a new-build regional craft brewery in Pennsylvania (Susquehanna Brewing Company). Jurado led design and concept at the brewery which is at steady-state operation now.
Prior to serving at The Gambrinus Company, Jurado was the International Brewing Development Manager at The Stroh Brewery Company, working in its domestic breweries as well as on international brewing projects (especially at a new-build brewery in Rajasthan, India). And before Stroh, he was a manager at Courage Brewing Limited’s large Berkshire Brewery in the UK. Jurado spent five years at The Lion Brewery, Inc., Wilkes-Barre, PA., moving from Assistant Brewmaster to Master Brewer.
He studied to become a Brewing Praktikant (Apprentice) at the Bavarian Breweries of Patrizier-Bräu AG in 1983. Upon completion, he worked as a Project Engineer at the Truman, Hanbury & Buxton brewery in London and then as a project engineer assigned to the Smithwickʼs Brewery in Kilkenny, Ireland. Jurado served as President of the Master Brewers Association of the Americas in 2005. He is a Senior Member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and served as Chair of the San Antonio Section of the American Chemical Society.
Jurado spent three years as an engineering Ph.D. candidate and researcher at Oxford University (Magdalen College) where he departed in good standing and is an occasional seminar presenter of engineering lectures; he holds an M.S. in electrical engineering and a B.S. in chemical engineering.
About Abita Brewing Company
The Abita Brewing Company was founded in Abita Springs, La. in 1986 and is the original and largest craft brewery in the Southeast. Its history and investments prove it is committed to responsible, sustainable development that celebrates and supports its community. The Abita Brewing Company produces seven flagship brews year-round: Abita Amber, Golden, Light, Turbodog®,Purple Haze®, Jockamo I.P.A.® and Restoration Pale Ale®. Abita also offers five seasonal beers, three Harvest brews, three Big Beers and a draft-only series of Select beers.
www.abita.com – facebook – @TheAbitaBeer
