Tiffany (Caron) Gillespie (GHS ’99) is like many students who are motivated, get decent grades, but are unsure about what career to pursue. A lucky few know at an early age what path they will take, but for many others, it is a question of trial and error and sometimes even some luck as they learn what interests them and what skills they can bring to the workplace.
After attending USM for a year after graduation, Gillespie found that she was uncertain about her program of study so she took some time off to travel. She went to Alaska and then settled in Palm Beach, Florida for a winter while she worked at the Everglades Club as a server and then at The Dunes Club in Narragansett, Rhode Island as a server and prep cook for the summer.
In 2001, Gillespie’s winding road brought her back to Gorham where she began working as a server, bartender and cook at Sebago Brewing’s new Gorham pub at Railroad Ave while attending USM as a Philosophy major, graduating in 2012. She admitted that it has been a struggle to find what she was really passionate about and to establish a career for herself saying, “I don’t want to work simply for a pay check, I want to love what I do.”
Photo credit Justin Lumiere (GHS ’99)Tiffany Caron Gillespie enjoys welcoming beer enthusiasts at the new Sebago Brewery Tasting Room.
Gillespie has found her passion in Maine’s burgeoning brewery industry. Maine is home to more that 130 breweries which dovetails nicely with Portland’s designation as Bon Appetite’s City of the Year. She said, “People come to Maine, because of the amazing breweries we have. Tourism is on the rise because of craft beer. Maine isn’t just blueberries and lobsters anymore,” adding, “Don’t get me wrong, I love blueberries and lobsters.”
Gillespie is currently very busy as the Tasting and Tour Manager at the new Sebago Brewing facility. She oversees a staff of five tour guides who she has trained about the history of the company and about the brewing process. She said, “We offer brewery tours every day of the week to groups of all sizes and also work closely with the Maine Brew Bus which brings groups to the brewery on a regular basis.”
Being part of the Maine Beer Trail, a passport to Maine breweries that offers rewards to visitors, also brings in tourists and locals alike to sample Sebago’s beers. The Tasting Room has 16 draft lines that showcase Sebago beers brewed on the small batch, 5 bbl (barrel) pilot system as well as those brewed on the larger 40 bbl system. Frye’s Leap IPA is the flagship, but Pack in the Day, BOG so Hard, Blazing Summer, Any IPA and On the Grind are just a few of the varieties that have been brewed at the new location. When asked about her favorite, she said, “My tastes change like Maine’s weather so it’s hard for me to have a favorite.”
Gillespie has also assumed responsibility for coordinating a wide variety of events held at the brewery. In this capacity, she loves that she has been able to reach out to the Gorham community to arrange special events like Beer and Yoga with Gorham Yoga, Beer and Bands with local musicians, and Beer and Cornhole. She also coordinated Sebago’s 20th Anniversary Party and its Oktoberfest celebration.
Gillespie is working toward achieving her level 2 certification in the Cicerone Program which designates four levels of professionals who have achieved experience in selecting, identifying, and serving today’s wide range of beers. She has passed her Level one certification and admits that this is the most challenging part of her job. “It has been a struggle, but I am committed to learning and expanding my comfort zone,” she said.
In order to achieve Level 2 certification, she will have to demonstrate that she has a solid, well-rounded knowledge of beer and beer service as well as basic competence in assessing beer quality and identity using the senses. The four-hour exam includes written, tasting, and demonstration portions.
Gillespie, with her outgoing personality, is well suited to the hospitality business. She also enjoyed staying busy in high school by participating in many activities like Chamber Singers, Basketball, Soccer, Cross Country, Spring Track, Yearbook, and Student Council. Three special teachers, Mr. Drisko, Mr. Carter, and Mr. Willet made a big impression on her with their passion for learning, their ability to encourage unique perspectives, and their encouragement of students to think outside the box, to ask questions and to follow their dreams.
Gillespie is thrilled to be back home in Maine where she can enjoy the outdoors. She lives in Portland with her husband Mike and assorted pets. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, snow boarding, running, reading, cooking, listening to music, hiking, going to the beach, trying to knit, and working on their camp at Sugarloaf.
Gillespie is the daughter of Larry and Brenda Caron. Brother Josh (GHS ’00) and his wife Maggie Tierney Caron live in Scarborough and are expecting their second child.
Gillespie can be reached at (207) 856-2537 Ext. 1 or at tiff@sebagobrewing.com.