From Pharmacist to Craft Beer Pioneer: Barbara Groom’s Journey

In 1983, Barbara Groom was in her late 30s and working successfully as a pharmacist. However, her career did not excite her. During a drive through Mendocino County, she noticed a sign for a new business that piqued her interest—a craft brewery. It was located in a modest brick building in the town of Hopland. Curiosity led her to stop by, as she was familiar with breweries in large industrial settings owned by big corporations.

Upon entering Mendocino Brewing Co., California’s first brewpub licensed to sell its craft beer, she witnessed something transformative. People were boiling wort—a sweet liquid that starts beer—in 55-gallon drums. This sight was a revelation for Groom, prompting her realization of a future beyond her pharmacy career. “This is what I want to do for the rest of my life,” she declared.

In 1990, Groom launched Lost Coast Brewery in Humboldt County, becoming one of the first female microbrewery owners in the United States. Her beers gained national acclaim, earning her the title “craft beer’s original female gangster” by Hop Culture magazine. For 36 years, her enterprise thrived. Today, Lost Coast Brewery consists of the original brewery and café and a 75,000-square-foot facility capable of filling 1,400 kegs daily.

Challenges in the Craft Brewing Industry

The craft brewing industry saw remarkable growth in the 2010s, but recent times have proven challenging. The Brewers Association reported that in 2025, closures of craft breweries exceeded new openings for the second consecutive year. This trend is due to increasing production and labor costs, market saturation, and declining alcohol consumption among young people. In 2024, California had 939 craft breweries, a decrease from 987 in 2023.

Groom, planning new adventures, recently put Lost Coast Brewery up for sale. She hopes to find a younger, energetic individual to continue what she started.

The Journey of a Trailblazer

Barbara Groom’s background is diverse. She grew up in Stockton with a wide range of interests. As a teenager, she aspired to be a snow skier, selling Avon products to finance her dreams. However, skiing was not her passion, leading her to pharmacy—a career she pursued for 20 years.

Beyond pharmacy, Groom owned a blueberry farm in Oregon and tried furniture making. Neither satisfied her creative side. Inspired by her visit to the Hopland brewery, she studied brewing methods and secured the necessary funds. In Eureka, she acquired a historic building and opened Lost Coast Brewery in 1990 with a female partner.

In the early days, the brewery struggled to attract patrons. A local bar manager suggested offering free chicken wings to draw people in to try the beer, a strategy that proved successful.

New Adventures Await

Now approaching 80, Groom seeks to embrace other adventures. An avid travel photographer, she travels the world, capturing scenes from countries like China, Romania, India, and many others. Her future plans include trips to Iceland and Azerbaijan.

Reflecting on her pioneering role as a female brewpub owner, she shares that any challenges faced were met with determination. “I never really worried about being a woman,” she said. “I just did what I wanted to do.”