What began as an idea during the COVID-19 pandemic has grown into Iowa State University’s cutting-edge Brew Lab, led by Dr. Richard Brown. We sit down with Dr. Brown to explore how the program offers hands-on learning opportunities for both undergraduate and graduate students, along with workshops for professional and home brewers. He shares his vision for expanding the lab’s reach, while graduate students Alex Jean and Sarah Tyree dive into their groundbreaking research aimed at making the beer brewing process more efficient—a potential gamechanger for the craft beer industry. They also reflect on how their families reacted to the unique focus of their graduate studies: brewing beer.