Meet the Founder: A Journey from Bucovina to Craft Beer

Hello, everyone, and thank you for taking the time to visit the blog section. I thought it would be fitting to start the first article by sharing a bit about myself and my background. After all, not everyone knows me personally, so let me introduce myself.

My name is Ioana Coca. Yes, Coca is my surname, and it’s a common name in Sadova, the village in northern Romania (Bucovina region) where I was born. I had a typical childhood in a rural setting, helping around the house and garden, surrounded by the quiet beauty of Bucovina.

Interestingly, unlike other regions in Romania, Bucovina doesn’t have a tradition of homemade alcoholic beverages like wine or țuică (a traditional plum brandy). My connection to beer during my childhood was minimal. There were no distilleries or breweries nearby, although the city of Suceava, where the Bermas brewery is located, was the nearest large town. Bermas is known for producing macro lager, an affordable, widely available beer. Growing up, I didn’t have much of an interest in it. Even today, while some people view it nostalgically or as a trendy choice, I find them as representative of a simpler style, typical of commercial beers. They fall into a category focused on mass consumption, without emphasizing the complexity of flavors or the tasting experience.

However, Bermas does have an intriguing story. After the Romanian Revolution of 1989, many breweries were acquired by international investors. Bermas, in contrast, remained fully independent and never wanted to be absorbed by the big players in the beer industry.

As a child, my only real "beer" memory involved a homemade sweet, dark, fizzy beverage that my grandmothers made during the holidays. It wasn’t beer in the traditional sense—more like a mix of sugar, raw barley, bread yeast, and water. It was a family favorite, though, and a cherished holiday tradition in Bucovina. Fast forward to my teenage years and early adulthood, and my relationship with beer remained largely nonexistent. The first commercial beers I tasted were disappointing—bland, industrial lagers that left little impression. It wasn’t until my university years in Bucharest that I discovered what beer could truly be.

My first encounter with real beer was with Belgian Trappist ales, and they were a revelation. I remember trying Orval and being completely puzzled by its funky, complex flavor—thanks to Brettanomyces yeast, though I didn’t know that at the time. That first sip was the start of what became a deep appreciation for craft/artisanal beer.

From there, my passion grew. I traveled more, tasted beers from around the world, and read voraciously about brewing techniques. By 2011, I began experimenting with homebrewing, and soon after, I became part of a growing community of young Romanian homebrewers. Between 2011 and 2015, we built something truly special—a movement of collaboration, contests, and shared passion. Many from that community went on to open their own breweries, helping to pioneer the craft beer scene in Romania.

At the end of 2015, I co-founded one of the first craft microbreweries in the country, specializing in Belgian-style beers and barrel-aged creations. Despite being a small company, it gained international recognition, winning accolades at prestigious competitions and participating in global festivals. Those years taught me so much—not just about brewing, but about marketing, logistics, and the many hats an entrepreneur wears.

But as with all stories, some chapters must come to an end. In the fall of 2024, I exited the brewery, handing over the reins to the other founder. It was a pivotal moment that made me reevaluate my place in the craft beer industry.

By November 2024, I decided to embark on a new journey: Craft Beer Voyage Romania. It began with small, intimate tasting events designed to bring people together over exceptional beers and meaningful stories. This is a new chapter for me—a way to continue sharing my passion while creating unique experiences for others.

Thank you for joining me on this journey. Stay tuned for more stories, insights, and updates about craft beer and the incredible world that surrounds it.

Love,

I