“When I began my journey as an engineer, I had no idea beer would change my life,” said Juan Palacio, founder and head brewer of Lardi Brewing, a family-run brewery in Colombia inspired by family moments and Juan’s hometown of Bello. “My passion for beer has influenced every part of my life.” 

“In my country, craft beer is still relatively new,” said Juan. “Many brewers in the industry started with more passion than technical knowledge. While my engineering background helps me easily understand the brewing process, if I want to represent and promote beer culture in Colombia, I need to be as professional as possible.” 

From focusing his food engineering studies on the brewing process to launching breweries and the educational platform Ciclo Cervecero, which trains brewing enthusiasts and professionals in quality control and sensory science, Juan now seeks a formal education in brewing science to deepen his expertise. 

Juan is currently a student in the Master Brewers Certificate Program at UC Davis Continuing and Professional Education. He is also a recipient of the Mark E. Ruedrich North Coast Brewing Scholarship and the Bay Area Brewers Guild Scholarship. With this support, he is ready to develop the skills he needs to grow his business and expand the brewing industry in Colombia. 

Juan reflects on his journey and his goals for the future. 

What initially sparked your interest in the brewing industry? 

I discovered the world of beer almost by accident. I was watching a UEFA Champions League match when I realized that beers other than industrial lagers existed. My curiosity took off and beer became my primary focus. 

To me, brewing is the most complex (and honest) process in food science. Every subject from my engineering career can be applied to a brewery. The moment I started brewing, I felt I was born for this. 

What are your goals going into the Master Brewers Program and how do you see the certificate helping you achieve them? 

My main goal is to show brewers and entrepreneurs in my country that through effort and consistency dreams can be achieved. I would also like to gain the knowledge to ensure the entire brewing process can be developed professionally and continue working to improve the quality of beer in my region by teaching and sharing all the experiences I learn at UC Davis. 

What does receiving the North Coast Brewing Scholarship and the Bay Area Brewers Guild Scholarship mean to you?

I’m very grateful to the university, the scholarship committee and the donors for supporting my journey and education. Personally, it’s the greatest boost I have received in my life to keep pursuing my dreams. My journey has been full of great moments with excellent colleagues, but I think this award is the beginning of new challenges in my life. I commit to representing the university throughout Latin America, sharing the knowledge my region needs. I hope to apply all I learn in the program to promote the growth of our community. 

What aspects of the Master Brewers Program are you most looking forward to? 

I believe all the knowledge I can gain will be useful. However, since completing the Beer Quality Specialization with UC Davis on Coursera and as part of the sensory analysis team at my university, I’m very interested in everything related to sensory science. In my opinion, it is a weak point in our profession, and improving it is key to achieving better stability and a consistent market. 

What do you plan to do next after completing the certificate program? 

Founding my brewery, Lardi Brewing, is my dream and my life project. The first step I would like to take in Colombia is to position my company as a benchmark, whether it is for its products or its quality system. 

I’m also working to include brewing-related subjects in the Ciclo Cervecero curriculum, focusing on training the next generation in brewing, research and entrepreneurship within this profession. I’ll continue teaching and working hard on different projects to promote brewing as an applied science as much as possible. 

Looking ahead, how do you see yourself contributing to and shaping the future of brewing? 

As brewers, we have a responsibility to show that brewing is a serious business that requires quality control, innovation and consistency. Passion is important, but knowledge is the key to ensuring a solid market with projects that are profitable and sustainable. We must start thinking about the consumer, giving clients the product they are looking for consistently. I would like to change the vision we have for our projects, focusing on stability and quality assurance. 

What advice would you give to others considering the Master Brewers Certificate Program? 

Our profession has evolved throughout history. We started brewing with more passion than expertise, but time has shown that every day brings new challenges. If we want to ensure long-term sustainability over time, we need to remain focused on quality. This certificate provides an opportunity to improve our knowledge, learn from experts and understand the science of beer. 

Is there anything else you'd like to share about your journey in brewing and your expectations for this new chapter? 

We need to stay at the forefront with leading breweries around the world. Our region is starting to grow in brewing and craft beer culture. Some breweries have won awards at major international competitions, including the World Beer Cup. 

I’m a firm believer in brotherhood and cooperation, especially in our profession. I look forward to sharing my experience in brewing and learning as much as possible. Thank you for this opportunity. I hope to carry the UC Davis flag throughout Latin America.