Meet the craft brewer looking to shake up London's beer scene

"I'm living the dream" is a common euphemism, one people frequently use describe a day at the office that isn't particularly fulfilling.

When Diana Salazar uses it, there's not a hint of sarcasm. She's completely serious. Then again, she's also not your typical Canadian craft brewer. 

"The dream job? I'm having it right now, in the present. I want to enjoy what I'm doing and I'm doing it because in the future I probably want open my own brewery."

Part of what sets Salazar apart is her unorthodox rise into the world of Canadian craft brewing. She hails from Ipiales, a city of 190,000 that straddles the Columbia-Ecuador border, known for manufacturing, particularly textiles and beer.

The 31-year-old Columbian immigrant was hired as the new brewmaster at Storm Stayed Brewing Company in London in February. A graduate of a Columbian culinary school, she became interested in brewing during a bartending class in her hometown. After researching schools, she chose the brewing program at Niagara College and hasn't looked back since. 

Co-owner Justin Belanger said the company hired Salazar because, like the brewery itself, Salazar is committed to always improving herself, the product and cultivating a more diverse audience through inclusive, creative and unique offerings.

"This industry needs more diversity. It needs more women. So we're happy to have someone like her on staff."

Belanger said what impressed the brewery most was Salazar's plans to "shake up" London's craft brewery scene with beer that will be entirely unique for the city. 

"We want to experiment out of our wheelhouse. She's already got some beers planned," he said. "It's a secret for now, until we get them going and we're happy with it."

Salazar was a little more forthcoming, saying the new beers will be entirely original and will fuse her Canadian brewing know-how with her Columbian culinary and cultural background. 

"Because I'm from Columbia, we have so many fruits that most Canadians don't know about. So let's say that in the future we'll have some interesting beers with Columbia fruits."

Like the spring itself, it's something to look forward to in a brewery that's endured a long pandemic winter, where shutdowns and strict public health measures took the bustle out of the brewery's normally lively taproom. 

"The pandemic has been slow. We're looking forward to the patio season and the nicer weather," Belanger said. 

So is Salazar, who after spending the last year in her native Columbia is back in Canada and ready to roll up her sleeves and embrace the hands-on nature of a job she loves.