The Science & Art of Making Beer, Wine, & Rum

COOS BAY, OR – Southwestern Oregon Community College invites the community to join us on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at 6:00 pm, for “The Science & Art of Making Beer, Wine, & Rum” with Annie Pollard and Carmen Matthews of 7 Devils Brewery, Richard Stillwagon of Stillwagon Distillery, and Veronica Viramontes with Gallo Winery. This is a free event; all ages are welcome.

Coos County residents can join us in-person in the Umpqua Hall lecture room (room 184) on the Coos Campus, 1988 Newmark Ave., Coos Bay.

Curry County residents can join us for a watch party in the Community Room on the Curry Campus, 96082 Lone Ranch Parkway, Brookings.

For those not able to attend in person the lecture will be streamed live on the College’s YouTube channel at: www.youtube.com/@southwesternOR/streams.

About the Lecture:

This lecture series event features a panel discussion focusing on the chemistry challenges and processes involved in the arts of brewing, distilling, and winemaking. Each of our guests has followed a unique path to their respective challenge in beverage science and are eager to share their lessons learned with the community.

About the Presenters:

Annie Pollard, Brewer/Artist/Marine Biologist, is fueled by a desire to combine all of her loves — sustainability, science, art, and community. As co-owner and CEO of 7 Devils, she opened the Coos Bay brewery in 2013. Before taking on the role of entrepreneur, Annie earned both a bachelor’s and master’s degree in science from the University of Oregon. She began studying biology and later honed in on marine bird nesting ecology. Between rehabbing endangered songbirds in Hawaii and researching Antarctic penguins, Annie picked up home-brewing as a hobby straight out of her Eugene apartment — an interest that brought her and 7 Devils co-owner Carmen Matthews together. Their passion for not only conserving and restoring the coast but celebrating it led the pair to open 7 Devils Brewery as a gathering place for the Coos Bay community.

Carmen Matthews, co-owner and head brewer of the 7 Devils Brewing Co., began his tenure in the beverage industry as a barista for locally owned Dutch Bros. Coffee. Trading in caffeination for fermentation, Carmen developed a passion for the art of craft brewing and all things pub culture. Carmen and his wife/co-owner, Annie Pollard had a common interest in home brewing when they first met, and began crafting recipes together. Their shared love of beer and community culminated in the duo opening the 7 Devils Brewery and Tap Room in their home base of Coos Bay, OR. Carmen grew up on the coast in a surf-loving family of artists. His deep love and respect for the coast and its inhabitants inspired the ethos behind 7 Devils; peace, love, music, and beer.

Richard Stillwagon is an artist, maker, and tinkerer. Self-educated in all professional pursuits, his formal education includes about two years of community college. Richard’s professional history includes: cabinet, furniture, yacht fixtures, light metal fabrication, greenhouse construction, aqua culture and aquaponics, martial arts instructor, distillation of spirits, and most recently opening an arts and trades school. Personal pursuits are art, history, tinkering, upcycling of industrial byproducts, water issues, and gardening.

Veronica Viramontes was born and raised in the Central Valley. Her family has been growing grapes in the Lodi area for 40 years. After growing up in the wine industry, she decided to make a career of it and enrolled at California State University, Fresno, where she earned her bachelor’s degree in enology. She says she is living her dream where she is a winemaker at Gallo, the largest winery in the world.

For more information about the lecture series contact Derek Morrelli, Assistant Professor, Chemistry at derek.morrelli@socc.edu or 541-888-1507.

For more information on upcoming lectures contact Krystal Hopper Meyers, STEAM Pathways Assistant, at 541-888-1518, or krystal.hopper@socc.edu.

To learn more about STEM degrees at Southwestern visit: https://www.socc.edu/programs-classes/stem/.