Derek’s brewing career began with his love of bees! With an abundance of honey produced by his bee hives, Derek made his first batch of mead… which led to brewing craft beer too! After winning multiple homebrew competitions, a desire to leave his career in the financial industry and turn brewing into a full-time gig quickly took hold. Fast forward several years, and Bearded Bee Brewing Company was formed!
Read MoreBen joined the Bearded Bee team in April 2025 and quickly became an integral part of the crew. A Raleigh native, Ben headed off to Auburn University for undergrad and later earned his PhD at Vanderbilt before spending time in California as a research scientist for a large winemaker. He and his wife knew they wanted to make their way back East, and we are thrilled they landed here. Outside the brewery, you'll find Ben spending time with his wife Jenna, their dog Penny, and catching a NC Courage match whenever he can.
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