Mercy Chiambi: The Woman Brewing Her Way to Mastery

A Woman Behind the Craft: Mercy Chiambi’s Journey to Master Brewing

Driven by curiosity and a desire to understand how science, creativity, and culture come together to produce something as timeless as beer, Mercy Chiambi is on a determined path to becoming a Master Brewer—one of the most elite titles in the global brewing world and one held by only a handful of women.

“Becoming a Master Brewer is considered the highest achievement in the brewing world. It requires years of studying, practical experience in a commercial brewery, and the ability to lead a team,” Mercy explains.

The Consistency of Brewing

Mercy’s journey began with a foundation in Food Science at the University of Nairobi, where she gained a solid understanding of fermentation, microbiology, and process control. She later joined the business as a young brewer eager to learn how raw materials journey through the brewhouse to become the beers consumers recognise on shelves and in bars.

Her development has been intentional and structured. She has rotated through brewhouse operations, quality management, packaging, and supply planning. The goal: to understand the full operational chain and build the capability needed to lead with both technical depth and commercial insight.

“I learned very quickly that brewing is not just about making beer. It is about consistency. It is about managing inputs, efficiency, losses, and yield. You must know where every litre comes from and where it goes,” she adds.

Over the years, she has earned her place as one of Kenya’s most respected female brewers, leading the team responsible for ensuring that the beer brewed at the Kenya Breweries Limited plant meets the quality benchmarks consumers expect.

“My day starts with reviewing performance from the previous shift. I want to see our brewhouse efficiencies, how fermentation behaved, the quality markers, and whether anything needs early intervention,” she says. “Consumers do not see the hours we spend analysing, testing, and refining. They only see the final product—and it is my job to ensure that it is excellent in every single way.”

Once the brew has fully matured, it is ready to be packed into bottles and steel kegs that consumers enjoy in bars and outlets. But like many brewers, Mercy has a personal favourite.

“I always reach for draught,” she says with a hearty laugh. “Draught is the closest connection between what I create in the brewery and what the consumer experiences in their glass.”

To her, draught represents the perfect intersection of science, technique, and a pure consumer experience. The perfect pour, the creamy head, and the fresh flavour all trace back to decisions made at the very beginning of the brewing process—from the selection of raw materials to the fine details of fermentation.

Inspiring the Next Generation

As one of the few women in brewing, Mercy’s message to young people—especially young women—is unwavering.

“Don’t be afraid to step into spaces where you’re underrepresented. Brewing is about passion, curiosity, and creativity. If you love science and creating something that brings people joy, this is the space for you. Be bold and keep going,” she concludes.