About the Students

KPU Brewing students Scott Hibbeln, Waka Sakurai and Peter Bartnik wanted to create a light, playful beer that brought back memories of Summer and nights sitting around a fire outside when they were designing the recipe for Big Apricot. 

Scott initially started his post-secondary path pursuing psychology. He has a background in hospitality, working as a bartender in pubs to fine dining restaurants, and also worked as a tour guide. He loves serving beer, drinking beer, talking about beer and now brewing beer! Scott was drawn to the KPU program for its hands-on training and experience in our teaching brewery. When he’s not studying, enjoying a beer, or outside skiing/hiking/biking/camping, you’ll find Scott working as a brewer at Parallel 49 Brewing in Vancouver.

Waka is from Japan and worked at a beer bar in Tokyo and had an internship at Godspeed Brewery in Toronto before applying to the KPU Brewing program. She appreciates the knowledge and support of her instructors and wants to become a Brewmaster one day. When she’s not in school, you’ll find Waka working at Four Winds Brewing in Delta or as a research assistant at the KPU Applied Genomics Centre* where they’re working with hop growers to develop new strains of hops.

Peter received his Bachelor of Science in Human Physiology and Biochemistry, then returned to school get his Doctor of Chiropractic in the US. He was a chiropractor for 20 years before deciding to pursue an education in brewing. His background in biochemistry and attention to detail marries well with the technical aspects of brewing. His goal is to have his own brewery one day and bring on some of his KPU friends to build something they can all be proud of.

*In 2021, the KPU Applied Genomics Centre won the Lupulin Cup from the BC Hop Growers Association for one of the hops they worked on with grower, Topp’s Hops.