About Grainbakers, Meet Caitlin

For many years, Caitlin owned a craft brewery and restaurants. Making the great Covid pivot, she relocated to sunny  California. Now, she is a baking instructor, designer, oil painter, Mum and marketing geek. She works professionally as a Consultant with her husband, Jeff, at Crafted-Destinations, offering services in restaurant design, mergers and acquisitions, brewery ownership, and peer counseling, and she teaches artisan breadmaking as Grainbakers, a mobile breadmaking school at small American Breweries.
 

In 2024, Caitlin Jewell has journeyed over 27,800 miles across the United States, teaching spent grain breadmaking classes at small American brewery taprooms. With over 3,400 participants across 30+ breweries, Caitlin set out to activate taprooms with engaging, hands-on entertainment that draws new customers and connects local communities with the brewing process.

 

As a former craft brewery owner, Caitlin originally taught spent grain breadmaking at her own brewery in Boston. Now, she travels coast-to-coast, bringing her artisan breadmaking classes to new audiences. Each event begins with a brewery tour and a warm welcome from the brewery operators, followed by a lively, flour-filled breadmaking session.

 

Based in California’s Bay Area, Caitlin’s initiative, Grainbakers, has expanded to a national tour, highlighting the unique challenges faced by small breweries in the U.S. Grainbakers works to energize these independent brewery taprooms on quieter nights, boosting revenue while bringing attention to the craft beer community’s challenges. Classes are often sell-outs, and guests help “make the dough rise” by purchasing beer, merchandise, and food, as well as tipping staff.

 

“It’s a knife fight in craft beer right now. Breweries that focus on quality, creative programming, and community engagement are not only enduring but are better positioned to thrive,” says Caitlin Jewell. “Grainbakers was created to bring meaningful, educational entertainment to these beautiful taprooms, drawing in new guests, increasing revenue, and forging lasting connections.”

​

In 2025, Grainbakers plans to bring its classes to breweries in Oregon, Washington, North Carolina, Texas, Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, Rhode Island, California, Canada and beyond. Proudly woman-owned and operated, Grainbakers offers artisan spent grain breadmaking classes exclusively at small, independent breweries throughout the U.S., helping to support and celebrate America’s craft brewing community.

​

Caitlin is a proud member of the Pink Boots Society and an Affiliate Member of the Bay Area Brewer's Guild.