Bhavik Modi
Co-Founder
Born in India and raised in the Midwest, Bhavik travels back home every year to visit family and explore the country. Each trip provides inspiration on how to partner with Indian entrepreneurs, work with local farmers and continue to educate the American consumer about this beautiful part of the world. One such trip yielded the idea for Azadi Brewing which he immediately took to his best friend Gator Schrand and they began home brewing experimental batches in Gator’s garage before launching Azadi together. Bhavik is based in Chicago and is actively engaged in the community. In his free time, he can often be found at a local Indian restaurant enjoying an Azadi with his favorite food, a crispy masala dosa!
Gator Schrand
Co-Founder
Gator embodies the free spirit of Azadi Brewing Company leaving his full time IT job to pursue his passion for craft beer - graduating with a brewing science degree and working at two large breweries in Ohio in a variety of roles. Passionate about the art & science of brewing, Gator has developed a taste for the eclectic flavors and cuisines of India. A believer that there is room for many more communities to fall in love with craft beer, he has found unique opportunities to incorporate Indian fruits, spices and flavors into American craft brewing. Gator resides in the Midwest and can often be found at a local Indian store experimenting with fruits and spices to bring to the next Azadi beer. And in case you were wondering his real name is Raymond…he was born with a tooth and was given the nickname Gator by his grandpa, we’ve known him by that name ever since!
our founding
Our original “brewery” in Gator’s garage. Picture is our first attempt at “Cochin” a Lemongrass Saison where we sourced the Lemongrass from a local Asian Food Market. The final product featured Lemongrass sourced from a farm in India on the foothills of the Himalayas operated by female farmers.