Brewing community: An ASU alumna’s journey from science to craft beer
Sue Rigler, an alumna of ASU and School of Life Sciences, has fulfilled her dream of bringing craft brews and community together with her business, Hundred Mile Brewing Company, in Tempe.
In the heart of her old college town, Sue Rigler crafted a business that’s more than just a place to enjoy a cold glass of beer. Rigler, passionate about community and science, has created a space that brings people together, celebrating both the art and science of brewing.
Growing up in Iowa, she was surrounded by block parties, pig roasts and regular neighborhood gatherings. These events often featured beer and fostered a deep sense of community. This realization stayed with her: “beer builds community.”
Rigler’s journey began in the world of science, majoring in microbiology in Arizona State University’s School of Life Sciences and conducting cancer research right out of college.
In 2014, during a visit to Montana, she saw a microscope in a brewery, sparking a reconnection with her scientific roots. This moment of serendipity set her on a new path, she enrolled in the University of California - San Diego’s brewing science master’s program. She raved to her friends and family about opening a brewery once her youngest child graduated high school.
On the day of her youngest’s graduation, she purchased a house in Arizona. She had long envisioned her brewery in Tempe, inspired by a photo she took in 1982 from her dorm at ASU’s Manzanita Hall. The building in that photo that now houses Hundred Mile Brewing Company was visible in that picture, a manifestation of things to come. Today, that photo hangs proudly above the bar.
A brewery deeply rooted in ASU and community
While the brewery is closely tied to the ASU community, it isn’t a typical college bar. “My bathrooms are too clean, and the floor isn’t sticky enough to be,” she jokes.
Rigler is active in the ASU Leadership Institute and hosts benefits, such as starting an annual fundraiser for the Alissa Serignese scholarship foundation, in memory of the former ASU Alumni Association vice president who passed away from breast cancer. In her honor, the brewery crafted a peanut butter stout called “Hey Buddy,” after the way Serignese often greeted people.
Her vision includes further community engagement, such as offering fermentation classes for ASU students and she is currently creating “Sparky’s Lounge,” a corner of the establishment to be adorned with ASU memorabilia.
Quality and connection
Craft breweries, she believes, are an extension of a person's living room, a place where people feel comfortable and connected. Her company embodies this philosophy, offering not just great beer, but a space where community thrives.
It’s more than a business; it’s a community gathering spot. Every Sunday, they host a run around Tempe Town Lake, offering brunch afterward. The run is inspired by the brewery’s name, and where that name came from; a 100-mile radius is where beer is freshest from production. Participants “collect” miles, earning rewards like t-shirts, sweatshirts and gift cards as they reach each hundred-mile milestone.
For her, the most rewarding aspect of running her company is interacting with customers. “My favorite thing is to do table-touches with customers and talk to the community,” she shares. The connections and friendships that have been forged there echo the communal gatherings of her upbringing and love for human connection.
Reflecting on success
In just a year and a half, Hundred Mile Brewing Co. has achieved remarkable success, winning the award for Best Small Business of the year from the Tempe Chamber of Commerce. “It’s surreal,” she reflects, acknowledging the dedication and passion that have driven her journey.
According to the Tempe Chamber of Commerce, its awards recognize local companies whose practices in business growth, employee development, community involvement and customer service exemplify excellence.
Today, she looks forward to the future of her business, and to greeting whoever may walk through her doors with a friendly smile and a pint.