Our Story

Blind Enthusiasm is a many-headed beast driven by our passion for great beer and fine food. Our neighborhood brewery at the Ritchie Market co-habits with our restaurant Biera; they’re practically inseparable with the showpiece brewhouse in a glass box adjacent to the warm industrial Biera dining room. Chef Christine Sandford has devised a creative and delicious menu inspired by European bistro fare, and head brewer Rob Monk makes delicately balanced beers to match the food, and satisfy any beer drinker.

Upstairs at the Ritchie Market is a barrel room dedicated to melding beer with the flavors of wine and spirit barrels next to the Barrel Room, a room reserved for special events, with charities being a particular focus.

Just blocks away is The Monolith, a brewery and barrel house designed from the ground up to create barrel-aged sour beers via spontaneous fermentation. Head brewer Doug Checknita applies both the art and science of brewing to create beers that can age for years and compete with the finest wines.

Why are we doing all of this? Because we love beer and we want to share what we make with as many people as possible. We’re ambitious and to deliver on our dreams we’ve gathered a tremendously talented team with a common vision. Read on and learn about the folks behind Blind Enthusiasm.

Brewing Philosophy

Focused on the long term, Blind Enthusiasm is all about quality and exploration. We will take our time to make great beer, the right way, and anything that doesn’t match our exacting standards will never see the light of day.

The People

These are the hard-working guys and gals that keep the place runnin’, and the beer flowin’.

Christine Sandford

Head Chef, Biera

With over a decade of experience as a chef, Christine has worked in a wide range of restaurants including Culina Mill Creek (as head chef) in Edmonton, La Buvette, Cafe Des Spores and In de Wulf's restaurant, De Superette in Belgium. She brings tremendous creativity and refined European sensibilities to the kitchen at Biera.

Christine Sandford

Head Chef, Biera

Dan VC

Assistant Manager, Biera

Dan has been a part of the restaurant industry for over five years in a variety of management roles. He contributes a passion for exceptional service and an eye for detail to the front of house at Biera.

Dan VC

Assistant Manager, Biera

Doug Checknita

Head Brewer, The Monolith

Doug trained in brewing at Olds College, worked at La Trou du Diable in Quebec, spent the 2016 brewing season working at Cantillon in Brussels, and consulted at Brasserie de la Senne. Doug runs Blind Enthusiasm’s spontaneous brewing and barrel-aging programs.

Doug Checknita

Head Brewer, The Monolith

Greg Zeschuk

Owner

Greg’s career has ranged from physician, to videogame developer as founder of BioWare, and now trainee brewer. Greg is the prime enthusiast behind the Blind Enthusiasm Brewing Company.

Greg Zeschuk

Owner

Ian Nawrot

Assistant Brewer

Ian brings a knowledge of biology (via his degree from King's University) and hand's-on experience as a plumber (he helped to build out the Ritchie Market) to the brewery as an assistant brewer. Along with Doug, he's also one of our main sciencers.

Ian Nawrot

Assistant Brewer

Justin Jones

Front of House Manager, Biera

Justin Blais is passionate, driven and has more than a decade of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry. Before beginning his career with Biera, Justin most recently worked in varying leadership and management roles for Award Winning restaurants in Calgary; most notably Charcut Roast House and ANJU.

Justin Jones

Front of House Manager, Biera

Kristin Morandi

Bar Manager, Biera

Kristin is an experimental home brewer with a bachelor's degree in Nutrition and Food Science. Her six years of experience in the restaurant industry that has spanned various roles in both the front and back of house.

Kristin Morandi

Bar Manager, Biera

Richard Iwaniuk

Finance and Business Operations

Trained as a chartered accountant, Richard is a CA/CPA responsible for business development, execution of strategic, legal, and financial initiatives at Blind Enthusiasm. He also does the books and even helps us brew!

Richard Iwaniuk

Finance and Business Operations

Rob Monk

Head Brewer, Blind Enthusiasm

Rob's career has spanned 16 years, starting at Yukon Brewing, followed by Spinnakers in Victoria, where he worked his way up to head brewer, followed by another 6 years as Yukon’s head brewer. Rob runs Blind Enthusiasm’s neighborhood brewery.

Rob Monk

Head Brewer, Blind Enthusiasm

Shauna Perry

Operations

Shauna Perry

Operations

Photo Gallery

Our space is as unique as our beers, can custom designed to bring you the finest brews.

Blindenthusiasmbeer