By Susan Motander
MADIA, the group that meets twice monthly to support the growth of high-tech industries in this area, met this week at Pacific Plate Brewery in Monrovia. While at first glance this may have seemed a departure from normal, the scientific side of the art of creating beer was discussed in detail at the meeting.
Stephen Kooshian, the CEO of the brewery, gave a “history” of brewing – not surprising as he has a degree in history from UCLA. According to Kooshian, brewing beer was the impetus to the development of civilization. It is his contention that the need for grain for the brewing of beer led to agriculture, which led to the development of civilization. Who needs bread when you have beer?
He also pointed out that some of the earliest known recipes for beer date back some 6,000 years to Sumeria. Kooshian noted that some brewers are attempting to recreate those ancient brews. Pacific Plate, while not taking on these ancient styles of beer, are creating new flavors and constantly improvising (one new innovation is aging their Copa d’oro brew in bourbon barrels- yum!).
After that history lesson (as with all lessons, this one went down better with a brew in hand), Steve Cardenas, one of the trio of owners and the company’s science officer and yeast raiser, reviewed the science of beer. And it is both a science and an art, as Cardenas explained.
For group that usually discusses cutting-edge developments in high-tech community, the gathering at Pacific Plate was a delightful departure and diversion. It was the softer and more flavorful side of science and industry. And everything goes better with a pint and a pizza.
