From the Garden to the Brewhouse: Brayn’s Wild Journey

At Okavango Brewing Company, we like to say good things grow slowly. Millet doesn’t rush. Neither does a proper lager. And neither, it turns out, does a great brewer.

Meet Brayn Frecky.

It started in the garden

When Brayn joined OBC 2022, it wasn’t anywhere near a fermenter. He was our gardener, keeping the grounds green and growing under the Maun sun. If something was alive around the brewery, chances are Brayn was the reason.

But while he was watering the plants, he kept one eye on the brewhouse. The tanks. The smell of the mash. The way a pile of grain turned into something worth drinking.

Swapping the hose for a mash paddle

So when the chance came to step in as brew assistant, Brayn grabbed it with both hands. Literally. Brew assistant is not a glamorous job. It’s hauling bagsof grain, scrubbing tanks until they shine, cleaning lines, early starts and long days, and learning every step the hard way. He did all of it. And he kept asking questions.

Now it’s official

After four years of graft, Brayn has stepped up to become a fully fledged OBC brewer. From growing plants to brewing beer, there’s something fitting about it: our beers start with millet grown by elephant-aware farmers, and now they’re being made by a man who knows exactly what it takes to grow something well.

“[Quote from Brayn, e.g. what this means to him, what he’s most excited to brew, or the best thing he learned as a brew assistant.]”
— Brayn Frecky, Brewer

Raise a glass

Brayn’s story is what Brewed for the Wild is all about: doing things differently, backing people, and letting good things grow. We couldn’t be prouder.

So next time you’re in the taproom, find Brayn and say congrats. And when you take a sip of your next OBC beer, there’s a fair chance he made it.

Brewed for the Wild. Grown with care. 🌱🍺