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People: Inspiring the Next Generation of Brewing Innovators

Meet the talented founders, instructors, lab managers, advisors,
and mentors behind University of Oregon's new Brewing Innovation Minor.

Lindsey Rubottom

Lindsey Rubottom is the Brewing Innovation Instructor and Lab Manager  

Favorite beer? The world of beer is vast, and I love exploring all corners of it—from sours and stouts to lagers and Belgians. But I always come back to a crisp, refreshing pilsner. It’s a style that’s rooted in brewing’s rich history, with a perfect balance of malt and noble hops. Every sip serves as a reminder of how beer continues to evolve and how craftsmanship can honor tradition while pushing boundaries.  

Why are you passionate about brewing and innovation? Brewing is so much more than just what is in the glass—it is about the nuanced flavors carefully crafted through the process of brewing. The constant evolution of ingredients and techniques blends artistry with science, making beer a medium full of endless possibilities. What excites me most is the complexity and the many "levers" we can pull in the brewing process. This makes beer the perfect medium for exploring new ideas and pushing the envelope of innovation. Innovation not only drives the industry forward but also helps solve problems—sometimes even the ones we didn’t know existed.

Jim Hutchison

Jim Hutchison is the Senior Associate Vice President of the Knight Campus and the co-founder of the Brewing Innovation program.

Favorite beer? I certainly associate different styles with different types of year and different settings. That said, if I had to pick one favorite style, it is probably Helles. The very best beers have balance - where each aspect of the sensory experience creates a harmony with the others. In a Helles, flavor is subtle but rich with the subtle malt flavors just balanced by the bitterness of Noble hops. It is a bit like being able to better hear harmony in music if the volume isn't so loud.”

Why are you passionate about brewing and innovation? For me, brewing is one of the ultimate creative processes where I can brew up complex, unique (and delicious) flavors from just a handful of natural raw ingredients. I'm also inspired by the long human history of brewing around the world and here in Oregon, and that history makes brewing an excellent platform for innovation because there is such a wide space to explore and to design beers that fulfill beer lovers' thirst for new sensory experiences.

Nathan Jacobs

Nathan Jacobs is the Senior Director of Academic and Impact Programming and co-founder of the Brewing Innovation Program.

Favorite beer? I’m on the hunt for my next favorite but I usually enjoy anything homebrewed over commercial beers.

Why are you passionate about brewing and innovation? Brewing is a great platform for innovation because you can try an almost infinite variety of things very easily. It’s easy to make many different tiny experiments or prototypes of an idea and find out lots of ways to test something quickly and easily. And you always have users who are willing to give you feedback.

Jenni Van Wyk

Jenni Van Wyk is a Student Recruiter and Advisor for the Knight Campus and helps coordinate progress through the Brewing Innovation minor.

Favorite beer? It depends on so many things! What time of the year is it? What am I eating? What's the weather? Who am I with? What's my mood?

Why are you passionate about brewing and innovation? I have been an observer, supporter and participant in the brewing industry for over 21 years through my spouse. Together, we've traveled the world, sometimes for beer, and other times, for vacation, always looking for what's local. Getting tours of breweries never gets old. Every brewery seems to have a different set of obstacles to overcome in order to make great beer. My passion for beer is with both the product and the people who make the product.

Mark Blaine

Mark Blaine is Professor of Practice, focusing on science communication, who splits time between the Knight Campus and the School of Journalism and Communication.

Favorite beer? Vienna lagers and marzens are probably my favorite. I like the lager-ness of them – usually very clean and simple ingredients with an added bit of darker malt.

Why are you passionate about brewing and innovation? Brewing is rich with stories, particularly when it comes to connecting a beer with its audience. How and why we drink the beer that we do is often based on a story that might have bits of brewing science blended with history and a vital community. The innovation of making a new beer should be responsive to audience needs, but there’s another critical step: how people will connect with that innovation. That’s probably a good story.