Under the Jenfluence Mission & Values
Why Under the Jenfluence exists—and the principles that guide every class, product, workshop, and educational resource.
Under the Jenfluence exists to help people think more deeply about beer through practical education, sensory science, and evidence-based learning. Every resource, class, and training experience is designed to build lasting understanding—not just memorization.
Core Values
Understanding over memorization
Learning should build understanding that lasts beyond an exam or a single class. Under the Jenfluence emphasizes curiosity, critical thinking, and meaningful connections over memorizing isolated facts.
Evidence over assumption
Brewing science, sensory science, and learning science provide the foundation for every resource, class, and training experience. Information should be accurate, transparent, and open to revision as new evidence emerges.
Expertise should be shared
Knowledge has greater value when it is accessible and shared with others. Under the Jenfluence is committed to helping more people learn through education, mentorship, community support, and practical resources.
Learning is collaborative
Some of the best learning happens through discussion, shared experiences, and asking questions together. Collaboration strengthens understanding and helps build a more welcoming beer community.
Practice builds confidence
Confidence is not something people either have or don't have—it develops through intentional practice, thoughtful feedback, and repeated experience. Every resource is designed to encourage active learning rather than passive consumption.
Everyone starts somewhere
Beer education should be rigorous without being intimidating. Whether someone is tasting their first craft beer or preparing for an advanced certification exam, every learner deserves respect, encouragement, and high-quality educational experiences.
Questions are welcome
Learning begins with curiosity. Asking thoughtful questions, challenging assumptions, and exploring new ideas are essential parts of developing expertise. Under the Jenfluence encourages curiosity as a strength rather than treating uncertainty as a weakness.
Education should be intentional
Great teaching doesn't happen by accident. Every worksheet, class, workshop, and learning experience is designed with clear goals, evidence-based teaching practices, and practical application in mind.
Educational Philosophy
Understanding creates confidence.
I believe great beer education should help people build understanding—not just memorize information.
Facts matter, but facts alone don't create expertise. Lasting learning comes from asking questions, making connections, practicing intentionally, and understanding why something is true. That's why I combine brewing science, sensory science, and learning science to create educational experiences that help people think critically, communicate confidently, and continue learning long after a class or exam.
My goal isn't to teach people more facts about beer. It's to help them build a way of thinking about beer. Whether you're studying for a certification, training a brewery team, or simply exploring beer out of curiosity, I want you to leave with knowledge you can apply, explain, and continue building throughout your life.
I also believe that expertise carries a responsibility to help create more experts. Education should empower people to ask better questions, share what they've learned, support one another, and help strengthen the beer community through curiosity, collaboration, and lifelong learning.
Collaborative Access & Community Support
I believe advanced beer education should be more collaborative, community-supported, and accessible to people with different financial realities, skill sets, and professional backgrounds.
Because of that, I offer product, service, and course access through thoughtfully aligned service exchanges and collaborative partnerships.
While some exchanges involve specialized skills, many projects need dependable support, curiosity, organization, communication, or help maintaining the educational infrastructure behind this work.
This can include things like:
cataloging materials
website maintenance tasks
SEO implementation
accessibility updates
content formatting
administrative assistance
organizational support
research or data entry
creative collaboration
community initiatives
Please don’t disqualify yourself because you aren’t an expert or don’t work in a highly technical field. Valuable collaboration can take many forms, and guidance can be provided for many tasks.
If you think you may be able to contribute meaningfully, even in a small or unconventional way, I encourage you to reach out rather than assume you’re “not qualified enough.”
The goal is to create exchanges that are equitable, sustainable, and supportive for everyone involved.
Accessibility Commitment
I believe great education should be as accessible as possible.
Accessibility isn't about lowering standards—it's about removing unnecessary barriers to learning. High expectations and meaningful support can exist together, and I believe more people should have the opportunity to build knowledge, develop expertise, and participate in the beer community with confidence.
Learning looks different for everyone, and there is no single "right" way to learn. I recognize that people learn in different ways, at different paces, and through different combinations of reading, discussion, observation, and hands-on practice. Whenever possible, I strive to design educational experiences that reflect that diversity.
Under the Jenfluence is committed to creating educational resources that are clear, approachable, and designed to support a variety of learning styles, backgrounds, and levels of experience.
Accessibility is an ongoing process rather than a finished destination. As Under the Jenfluence continues to grow, I am committed to improving educational materials, digital experiences, and learning opportunities whenever practical. I also welcome thoughtful feedback about ways to make them better.
If you encounter an accessibility barrier or need an accommodation, please don't hesitate to reach out. While I may not always be able to meet every request, I'll do my best to work with you to find a practical solution whenever possible.
Current Commitments
I strive to:
Write in clear, straightforward language whenever possible.
Explain technical terminology rather than assuming prior knowledge.
Organize information with descriptive headings and logical structure.
Design educational resources that emphasize understanding rather than unnecessary memorization.
Include meaningful alternative text for images and continue improving website accessibility whenever practical.
Offer a variety of learning experiences—including written resources, visuals, guided instruction, discussion, and hands-on activities—to support different learning preferences.
Continue learning about accessibility and incorporating new tools, technologies, and best practices as they become available.
Welcome questions, feedback, and requests for reasonable accommodations that help remove barriers to learning.
Feedback & Accommodations
Accessibility is a continual learning process, and there is always room to improve.
If there's something I can do to make your learning experience more accessible, or if you've encountered a barrier while using this website or participating in one of my educational offerings, I'd genuinely appreciate hearing from you. Your feedback helps me continue improving Under the Jenfluence for everyone.