Meet Erin: our plant-loving, pow-chasing, all-around badass bartender of six years!
Erin started at Aslan’s Brewpub as a server in 2016 and quickly moved into being able to cover any position (i.e., bartender, server, food runner, hostess). Now you’ll primarily find her working at Aslan Depot as a bartender, cleaning tap lines, tending to Aslan’s vast array of plants, or helping out with events–while still picking up shifts at the Brewpub when needed.
Snowboarding and splitboarding (and the dream of one day getting a snowmobile!) brought Erin to Bellingham from Spokane about 12 years ago. Her plan was to move around the U.S. and work at different ski areas, but she quickly fell in love with Mt. Baker. She started out as a lifty there but now runs the volunteer program and helps with coordinating events.
When not working at Aslan or Mt. Baker, Erin dreams of one day owning a farm and event space that focuses on farm-to-table gatherings. Her dream location would ideally be near to Bellingham and be open to all people from all walks of life.
“I love hospitality. I also would like it to have some sort of ambiance with good food, community, and conversation on a farm. I would love to share that with people,” Erin says.
After working on farms in New Zealand and Orcas Island, she’s gained some valuable experience that will help her take steps towards her farming dreams!
On Orcas, Erin worked at a restaurant and event venue where she farmed by day and served by night. In the off-season, she was able to stay on and learned everything she now knows about preserving and canning produce. It was there, on Orcas, that Erin realized what she wanted to do with her life.
In New Zealand, Erin worked on a cherry orchard where she learned about pruning and grafting rootstock. She also spent some time harvesting kiwis–which, despite being one of the hardest jobs she’s ever done, was really fun and profitable.
By working consistently at the Aslan Depot with its ever-changing tap list, Erin has gained much more knowledge of wine, cider, and beer. “When I started working down here, I was really excited to kind of have this endless amount of learning with wine, cider, and beer. Getting to talk about beer more was really intriguing to me!” she said. Not only is this a fun challenge for her, but she’s also gaining skills to use in her future.
Erin’s pup Timber helping her care for Aslan’s Brew Pub plants!
With events slowly trickling back into our world, Erin has also started helping plan, decorate, and coordinate details with Aslan events. From plant care, to event logistics, to just being the ray of sunshine that you need on a cloudy day, Erin’s versatility has helped Aslan grow in so many different ways!
“I really like variety and I feel like I get to do that at Aslan. There’s always been this feeling that I can grow and that I've been respected for the work that I've done. They recognize it and I think that goes a long way with any workplace.”
Thank you Erin, we appreciate you!
