Sarah Foreman
Sarah Foreman is a seasoned Production Manager with over eight years of experience in the brewing industry, specializing in operations, supply chain, and manufacturing leadership. Currently at Lahaina Brewing Company in Hawaii, she oversees procurement, logistics, packaging, and island-wide distribution, ensuring efficient coordination across production, management, and taproom teams. With hands-on expertise in beer production on a 5 BBL brewhouse, cellaring operations, TTB compliance, and cost management, Sarah brings a meticulous approach to maintaining high-quality standards throughout all aspects of brewery operations.
Throughout her career, Sarah has demonstrated a strong ability to scale production and streamline processes in both small and large brewery settings. She has held key roles at Maui Brewing Co., Big Stump Brew Co., and Sacrament Brewing, contributing to beer production, recipe development, and cellar operations. Her experience spans wort production, barrel-aged sour beers, R&D, and festival coordination, highlighting her versatility and commitment to quality and innovation in the craft beer industry.
Sarah’s professional focus centers on operational excellence and strategic leadership. She emphasizes collaboration, proactive problem-solving, and continuous improvement to drive organizational success. Having progressed from general labor and brewing roles to production management, Sarah’s career reflects a dedication to growth, mentorship, and sustaining high standards across every facet of brewery operations.
• Tidewater Community College - A.S.
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to persistence, adaptability, and a determination to prove myself in a male-dominated industry, even in the face of early skepticism about my size and background. I’ve embraced every opportunity to learn all aspects of the operation, take on physically demanding work, and stay resilient through ownership changes, staffing transitions, and relocating to Hawaii. These experiences have shaped my approach, strengthened my skills, and fueled my growth as a professional.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received has come from the senior brewers and industry colleagues I’ve worked alongside throughout my career, including the leadership team at my current brewery. Their guidance has shaped my approach to the craft, reinforced the value of collaboration, and taught me how to navigate challenges with both skill and integrity.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering this industry is to ignore stereotypes, let your competence and consistency speak for you, stay determined, and never allow intimidation in male-dominated spaces to limit your ambitions. Success comes from proving your capabilities through hard work and resilience, not by fitting someone else’s expectations.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Some of the biggest challenges in my field include the physical demands of production work, navigating industry instability caused by ownership changes, rebuilding after natural disasters such as the Lahaina fires, and the limited advancement opportunities often found in smaller facilities. At the same time, there are significant opportunities, including expanding into logistics and management roles, exploring remote or hybrid operations work, contributing to brewery growth and rebuilding efforts, and supporting the increasing recognition and leadership opportunities for women in the brewing industry.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life include resilience, independence, accountability, a strong work ethic, continuous learning, and maintaining a healthy balance between career growth and personal life.
Outside of work, I am passionate about animal care—I recently adopted a duck—cooking, gardening, and experimenting with creative beer recipes. I’m also excitedly planning my upcoming wedding, which includes brewing a custom West Coast Pilsner with personalized labels. These interests allow me to combine creativity, care, and attention to detail in ways that enrich both my personal and professional life.
Locations
Lahaina Brewing Company
Makawao, HI 96768