Jamil Zainasheff’s story starts as many do – in a garage, as a hobby. In 1999, a neighbor gave Jamil a home brewed beer that he had made. Jamil’s wife got him his own home brewing kit and that was the start of his enterprise. He honed his skills but maintained his engineering job until 2011, when fans of his craft brews convinced him to open the doors of Heretic Brewing Company.

Jamil knew creating great beer was equal parts science and intuition. He sourced local ingredients, utilized state of the art equipment, and maintained an on-site lab to ensure consistent quality and taste. This attention to detail paid off and in 2013 he relocated to Fairfield and opened a taproom. In 2015, Jamil used 504 funding to expand his existing location and create 35 new jobs. Today, Heretic beer is in 13 states and six countries – proof that commitment to the craft can turn a hobby into a thriving enterprise.