Home > 5 Minute Mentor: Spike Buckowski, Terrapin Beer Company
5 Minute Mentor: Spike Buckowski, Terrapin Beer Company
Spike Buckowski
- Master Brewer at Terrapin Beer Company
Brian "Spike" Buckowski - Founder / Brew Master of Terrapin Beer Company.
Favorite saying: "Beer…Making people smile since 3500 B.C." Spike is the
creative force behind Terrapin beers. Born in New Britain, CT he moved to
Atlanta in 1992. Spike began home brewing in 1993 and never looked back.
Spike is a 1996 graduate of The American Brewers Guild in California. The
program included an intensive brewing science and engineering curriculum.
Judging from the accolades and medals he is winning for Terrapin, he must
have paid some attention in class.
Terrapin Beer Company
Terrapin Beer Company was born when two brewers met while working together
at a microbrewery in Atlanta. Looking around at what other breweries in the
SE were doing, Spike and John felt they could make a contribution. Realizing
that anyone could make just another pale ale, brown ale or stout, Spike and
John set their sights on crafting beers unlike any that were currently
available in the SE.
Terrapin introduced its first beer, the Rye Pale Ale in April of 2002. Six
months later while only available on draft in Athens, Terrapin’s sole
offering won the American Pale Ale Gold Medal at the 2002 Great American
Beer Festival. Only six months old, Terrapin had arrived in style!
Since they were going to be making unique beers, Spike and John knew from
the beginning that Terrapin Beer Company should be located in a city as
distinctive as their brews. What better place than Athens, GA? Both Athens
and Terrapin have a great love of music, are committed to the environment,
and practice living life to the fullest.
