World-traveler Mikkel Borg Bjergsø built a different pathway to brewing success, partnering with creative brewers around the globe, rather than building his own brewhouse, and keeping “beer geeks” happy with a non-stop supply of one-off releases. But recently Mikkel and AleSmith Brewing Company’s Owner and Brewmaster Peter Zien announced the opening of a Mikkeller brewery in San Diego in the current home of AleSmith Brewing Co. Instead of traveling to brew with others, it seems Mikkel will be inviting them to come brew with him. Says Alex Barbiere, marketing specialist at AleSmith, “Mikkeller and AleSmith Brewing Co. have officially joined forces to transform the original AleSmith brewery location into one glorious, creative workshop. These two legendary brewers will formulate entirely new recipes with some of the world's finest breweries. Expect to see the liquid results of this creative partnership summer 2015!”
Mikkel’s reputation generally proceeds him, but for those unfamiliar, he’s a former high school chemistry teacher from Denmark who used to teach his students how to brew in the school kitchen. He began these lessons in 2003, and by 2006 when he launched Mikkeller, it was named Brewery of The Year by the Association of Danish Beer Enthusiasts.
Mikkel’s journey has been fast and furious, just like he is. He began homebrewing out of a desire for better beer than he could find locally, and when he decided to turn his hobby into a business, it seemed too expensive of an endeavor. He didn’t want to take out loans, nor did he want to compromise the quality of his beer to pay for those loans.