About Us
We are brewers, scientists, and fermentation enthusiasts.
We believe in producing high-quality cultures that you can trust.
Because we learned by doing, we speak with confidence and act with skill to help you grow your craft and brew your best. We start with yeast and end with a thriving community of scientists, entrepreneurs, makers and devoted consumers.
Our products taste of
pride and friendship
Founders Angus Ross, Nate Ferguson and Richard Preiss met while working in a yeast research lab at the University of Guelph.
A collective love for beer and brewing led them to found Escarpment Laboratories, intending to add value to the craft beverage landscape and hang out in breweries for a living.
Our purpose:
Harnessing the science of cultures.
Since 2015, Escarpment Laboratories has helped hundreds of breweries achieve their fermentation targets. We grow our reputation as industry leaders by innovating every single day and teaching as we learn.

Nate Ferguson
Cofounder Nate Ferguson has been working in the beer industry for nearly a decade, mainly focusing on microbiological Quality Control and Quality Assurance which is what he teaches at Niagara College for the Brewmaster Program. Nate is our creative and technical wizard and always finds ways to solve challenging technical problems in-house and for clients.

Richard Preiss
Cofounder Richard is an active brewing scientist and long-time homebrewer. At Escarpment, Richard's focus is on translating new research into exciting products and knowledge for brewers. Richard loves to help our team and the brewers we work with to solve problems, overcome challenges, and unlock efficiencies. One day, Richard will write a manifesto on Brettanomyces.

Angus Ross
Cofounder Angus Ross launched the idea for Escarpment Labs, based on the clear need for a domestic Canadian yeast lab for craft brewers. In the early days, Angus did it all: propagation, sales, marketing, cleaning pumps... Today, Angus manages human resources, finances and sales at Escarpment. Angus is a big fan of funky, Bretty beers.

Luisa Muhleisen
Luisa is our Lab Manager, overseeing both Internal and External Quality Control activities at Escarpment Labs. Formerly, Luisa enjoyed careers as an Analytical Chemist in Big Pharma and as a Brewer with Big Beer, and is happy with it all coming together with her role at Escarpment. In her spare time Luisa performs improv but will never ask you to go to her shows. Promise.

Evan Graham
Evan was trained at the Niagara College Brewmaster Program and previously worked at Amsterdam Brewery in Toronto. He is the Production Lead and Plant Manager (we have a lot of houseplants) at Escarpment Labs, and commutes by bicycle year-round.

Eugene Fletcher
Eugene is our R&D Lead with a PhD in Cell Biology from the University of Edinburgh, Scotland. He is our in-house yeast doctor and a big fan of exotic yeasts. Eugene spends his time developing new yeast strains or rowing on some waters in Canada or abroad. Having lived in Europe, he has a permanent scar of enjoying ice cold lagers.

Joshua Muller
Joshua is our Sales and Logistics Specialist, responsible for production scheduling, answering customer emails, and fulfilling orders. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business from Brock University and completed the Niagara College Brewmaster Program. Joshua is interested in marketing and never takes a lunch break.

Lisa Maslove
Lisa works in our Finance department. She holds a Masters in Health Economics and is a member of the Guelph Public Library Board. Lisa is passionate about socially responsible business. Her favourite things to pair with beer are pizza and pickled herring.

Pat Wynn-Williams
Pat is our Sales and Logistics Specialist. He's here to make sure that you find the right products to suit your needs, as well as ensure that it arrives on time for your brew. Pat is a veteran brewer with a decade of experience in the craft brewing industry, as well as a Food Science graduate from the University of Guelph.

Nicole Irvine
Nicole is our Marketing Lead, responsible for attracting customers online through social media & content marketing. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications from Carleton University, and completed the Brand Management program at Algonquin College. Nicole’s ideal day involves the Joey special (2 pizzas), Disney movies, and a selection of hazy IPAs.

Chris Waterton
Chris is our Packaging and Shipping Technician who graduated from the Brewmaster program at Niagara College in December 2019. He has a high attention to detail honed through years of working in the food & beverage industry. Chris uses his experiences to ensure packages leave the door on time keeping the brewer’s goals in mind. He is also a member of our marketing team, helping in the design process of various projects. Chris goes by more nicknames than any human should. Most know him as just one, Waterton.

Hana Knill
Hana is our Data Scientist and Food Fermentation Specialist. She has a Master's in Management Science specializing in data analytics and machine learning from the University of Waterloo. Hana enjoys rock climbing, winter hiking and cozy nights knitting.

Shelley Beirnes
Shelley is an optimistic and enthusiast Account Manager on our Sales team with over two decades spent in the brewing industry, on both the brewing and supply & manufacturing sides. When she's not visiting with our customers and talking fermentation, she's spinning vinyl, camping in her van, or watching Everton FC implode. She appreciates a good campfire spent with friends.

Attilio Consigli
Attilio is one of our Lab Technicians. He graduated from the University of Guelph with a specialization in Microbiology and a minor in Biotechnology. Attilio is the green-thumb for our Hanlon location as he carefully tends to our beloved plants. He is basically a walking meme reference machine and enjoys sipping on Saisons while sitting under the sun.

Adam Jarvis
Adam is a graduate from the Niagara Brewmaster program and joined our team as a Production Assistant. Adam helps the Production team grow yeast and CIP tanks. He is an avid outdoorsman and in his free time likes to tend to his gardens!

Emily Storey
Emily is our Data Scientist and Software Developer. She has a Master's degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering from the University of Toronto, where she worked in Machine Learning and Spectroscopy. When she's taking a break from being a numbers nerd, you can find her running on trails, doing some sewing or needlework, or out in the garden enjoying a pint of homebrewed Dark Mild.

Justin Clouthier
Justin is our Homebrew Lead at Escarpment Labs, tackling all things homebrew. He holds a BA in History from Wilfrid Laurier University and graduated from Niagara College’s Brewmaster program. He loves working at Escarpment Labs where he gets to nerd out with other passionate people. Justin spends his off-time unwinding with his family as he slowly watches his Spotify mixes turn into children’s songs thanks to his daughter.

Krista Stemmler
Krista is our Laboratory Technician and resident witch. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Integrated Science & Psychology from McMaster University, and completed Niagara College's Brewmaster program. Krista makes a mean cross-stitch, still wants all parties to include laser tag, loves karaoke but can't sing, and enjoys movies that inspire an existential crisis. Her favourite cheese is all cheeses.

Camille Regimbal
Camille is our Harvesting Technician. She graduated from Trent University with a Bachelor degree in Biology with a specialization in environmental biology. In her spare time, you'll find Camille taking a hike to do some birdwatching, curled up with a book, or working on her next crochet project.

Drew Somers
Drew is one of our Production Assistants. He holds an Automotive Technology degree from McMaster University and was trained at the Niagara College Brewmaster Program. Drew helps with daily production and CIPs. When he isn't propping, you can find him on his bicycle, experimenting in the kitchen or enjoying a Belgian style ale.

Chris Bunting
Chris is our Sales Associate that is primarily focused on customer service and managing client orders. He came our way from U of Gs MBIOT program, where he started off as a Co-op student for us. Chris is a food fermenter and baker, in his spare time you'll find him enjoying a beer at a Rugby game or off somewhere on his precious bike. Chris is vying for the title of fastest cyclist at Escarpment.

Mark Korczynski
Mark is our Sales Coordinator, responsible for overseeing your orders from start to finish. He has been working in the craft beer industry for the past 6 years and is proud to be a part of the Escarpment team. Mark has a bachelor's degree in Kinesiology from The University of Western Ontario. An avid musician, he plays bass in a local band in his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario.

Tomas Fischer
Tomas is one of our Laboratory Technicians, a recent graduate of the University of Guelph's Microbiology program, and wannabe pirate. When he isn't looking under the microscope, you can find him rock climbing, plotting for his D&D campaign, or enjoying a cold one by the lake. Tomas is excited to expand his knowledge on all things yeast and brewing related.