ALL FOUR: People – Yazan Karadsheh

Yazan Karadsheh came to CU Boulder to study electrical engineering, but he soon discovered his dream of becoming a brewer. Today, 11 years after graduation, Karadsheh is founder, CEO and master brewer of Carakale Brewing Co., the first microbrewery in the Middle Eastern country of Jordan.

“Studying at CU taught me how to work hard to achieve my goals, and it taught me that nothing is impossible — no matter the challenges you face.”

How has the University of Colorado shaped your life?

At the University of Colorado, I studied engineering. It was a lot of fun, and it was a lot of work. Studying at CU taught me how to work hard to achieve my goals, and it taught me that nothing is impossible — no matter the challenges you face.

Although engineering was not ultimately my true passion, I did discover my passion while studying in Boulder: brewing beer. My engineering background gave me a good mind for machinery and instrumentation, which there is a lot of in brewing. That and everything I learned about pushing myself to achieve my dreams really helped me to get where I am today.

When people ask you about the University of Colorado, what do you tell them?

First and foremost, I miss it. Colorado is one of the most beautiful states in the United States, and as somebody who has traveled all over the world, that’s saying something. After graduating, I wound up going back to Boulder and worked at several microbreweries before eventually starting my own. I miss the people, too — both on and off campus. My professors always kept classes interesting and engaging, which was very important for a student like me whose heart was elsewhere. And, there were so many people at the university and around town who were very liberal, with diverse backgrounds and open minds. It really is an amazing place. 

What values did you learn at the University of Colorado that impact your life to this day?

At the University of Colorado, I learned the value of hard work. After graduating from the school of engineering, I began working in an oil field in Wyoming, and it just wasn’t for me. So in a way, CU also taught me how important it is to find your passion, and then to work hard to make that passion into a career. That’s what I did and that’s where my adventure really began.

What do you find most inspiring about the University of Colorado?

The number of things that CU Boulder and the city itself will expose you to is unlike any other place I’ve been in America. There, you are surrounded by very smart, very talented, very passionate people, and in that kind of environment, you learn very quickly how to really love something and turn it into a life.