About Us
Combined, the Great Fermentations of Indiana staff has been brewing or making wine for over 45 years. We love the science and the creativity of making beer, wine, cider and mead. We have made countless gallons of fermented beverages ourselves and helped thousands of customers make their own. We look at consumption as enjoyable research. Get to know us and use us as a resource for all your fermentation needs.
Anita Johnson
My passion for fermentation all started in 1995 when Joe Gula told me he brewed his own beer. Intrigued, I agreed to make Joe’s favorite dinner, macaroni and cheese from a box and fish sticks, if he would teach my husband and me how to brew. We bought the equipment and fought over Papazian’s New Complete Joy of Homebrewing. I still remember the pure exhilaration when we popped the crown on our first batch, Cheeks to the Wind Mild, and it tasted great! (more…)
Tony Vendely
Tony is a native of Dayton, Ohio and a graduate of Wright State University. He spent his first 30+ working years in a number of business endeavors. He began home-brewing and wine making in 1992 and has made over 220 batches of beer and over 350 batches of wine at home. He worked as a wine-maker for 5 1/2 years at a local winery and has been at Great Fermentations 4 1/2 years. Aside from wine and beer making and consuming, he enjoys cooking, entertaining, gardening and travelling.
Dan Kryzwicki
As a self-taught homebrewer, Dan learned a lot over the past 8 years through trial and error, research and experimentation. After leaving his job as a Landscape Architect, Dan worked as a brewer at 2 local breweries before taking the job at Great Fermentations overseeing beer production and recipe development. His most recent accomplishment was a Blue Ribbon in the Pilsner category at the Indiana State Brewer’s Cup.
Kevin Brown
Kevin started brewing when his wife (girlfriend at the time…you can see why he kept her around) bought
him a home brewing set for his birthday. He instantly fell in love and has been brewing beer for 3 ½
years now. It was a fun (and cheap) way to drink his favorite styles of beers. Kevin came to Great Fermentations in March after leaving his retail management position at Porter Paints and is teaching, as well as learning from, our customers. He recently started with all grain brewing which has allowed him to fine tune his recipes and procedures.
him a home brewing set for his birthday. He instantly fell in love and has been brewing beer for 3 ½
years now. It was a fun (and cheap) way to drink his favorite styles of beers. Kevin came to Great Fermentations in March after leaving his retail management position at Porter Paints and is teaching, as well as learning from, our customers. He recently started with all grain brewing which has allowed him to fine tune his recipes and procedures.
Mike Freeman
Bachelor of Chemistry – University of Oklahoma (Boomer Sooner!) Mike has worked as a Chemist in Oil/Gas and Pharmaceutical Industries for over 25 years before coming on board with Great Fermentations in 2010. Married for 27 years with two children, he has enjoyed home wine making and brewing, and spent two years as a part-time assistant wine maker at a small boutique winery. As one of our four BJCP certified judges on staff, Mike is also active with the Foam Blowers of Indiana.
