Schmohz: The Driving Force Behind Good Beer

This is what people do for beer: they go to a job at in southeast Michigan five days a week, and then, they drive across the state to brew beer all weekend. Jim Schwerin has been living this life since 2004. Along with his wife, Laurie, Schwerin co-owns Schmohz Brewing Company in Grand Rapids. Like many breweries, it all started with a dream.

Schwerin and his fellow Michigan Tech friends had a desire for good beer, but were having a difficult time finding what they wanted as they traversed the state to and from school. Years after graduation, Schwerin decided to make this dream of good beer a reality, and purchased the former Robert Thomas Brewery in Grand Rapids. With the support and financial backing of their friends, the Schwerins launched Schmohz in December of 2004. (The name came from the union of the last names and nicknames of the friends from Michigan Tech. “We would come up with all kinds of names during trips to the UP,” Schwerin said. “Schmohz is the one that stuck.”)

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