July 15, 2025
It’s not every day a 21-year old brewer takes home an international award. But, on May 1, 2025, Archival Brewing’s head brewer, Garret Fox, did just that — earning a Silver Award in the Historical Beer Category at the World Beer Cup, one of the most prestigious competitions in the craft brewing industry.
Fox, a graduate of Grand Rapids Community College’s craft brewing program, is one of the youngest brewers to medal at the global event. The award-winning beer, Aegir’s Wreath, stood out for its adherence to historical brewing techniques and distinct flavor.
A Foundation Built at GRCC
Fox’s brewing journey began at GRCC, where hands-on learning and real-world experience are central to the craft brewing program. “GRCC really introduced me to the community quickly,” Fox said. “We toured a lot of breweries during the program. It was very hands-on.”
Every student in the program is required to intern at a local brewery. That’s how Fox began working with Levi and Callee Knoll, owners of Archival Brewing and alumni of GRCC’s Secchia Institute for Culinary Education.
“We got really lucky when we met Garret,” said Levi Knoll. “He has an incredible drive and skillset. His knowledge for craft beer and the brewing process, along with his ability to learn quickly, is a winning combination. He has an amazing work ethic to go along with it all.”
The Recipe for Success
Aegir’s Wreath was part of Archival Brewing’s opening lineup — but it didn’t win over every brewer.
“Our brewer at the time hated it,” Levi said, laughing. “But it was a popular beer, so we kept it on the menu. Garrett is the only one who can brew it consistently. He’s the reason we took home silver.”
While the Knolls created the recipe, they credit Fox with executing it to perfection. “Recipes are one thing,” Levi said. “Knowing the technique and having the skill set to execute the recipe is an entirely different thing. I can hand the same recipe to 30 different brewers and you’ll get 30 different beers.”
Fox credits his early success to his education at GRCC.
“The program was very beneficial,” he said. “GRCC gets us into the brewery as quickly as possible. They make sure we’re hitting our temperatures and know what we’re doing overall. Once I took over and started brewing, I felt like I had all the experience I needed to succeed. I felt confident brewing beer.”
Brewing Tradition, Honoring History
Aegir’s Wreath takes up to 10 hours to brew and demands a patient mind, a diligent approach and historical knowledge.
“You just have to know, with this particular beer, it’s going to be a long day,” Fox said. “If you diligently go through the steps of the recipe, stay patient and know it’s going to come out, you’ll have a great beer at the end of it.”
The beer is inspired by Scandinavian brewing traditions. Aegir, a figure from Norse mythology, is a sea giant associated with brewing. The “wreath” refers to a kveik ring — yeast-preserving tool passed down through generations.
“There is a wide history in how beer was brewed,” said Callee Knoll. “It was actually the women who used to brew it. They were the foragers and did the work while the men were out hunting. Putting together the name Aegir’s Wreath helped us tell the story of the beer. We felt it captured the history of it all.”
Raising a Glass to the Future
Levi and Callee started Archival Brewing in their garage, driven by a love for traditional brewing methods and storytelling through beer. Today, that passion is paying off. Not just in awards, but in the rising talent of brewers like Fox.
In a community that thrives on coming together and supporting one another, it only makes sense that a beer celebrating that same sentiment would be recognized on a world stage.
The next time you visit Archival Brewing in Belmont, Michigan, order a pour of Aegir’s Wreath. Not only will you be sipping on an award-winning beer, you’ll be part of a legacy carried forward by one of the craft brewing industry’s rising stars.
Learn more about Archival Brewing in Belmont, MI.
This story was reported by Anjula Caldwell