20 questions

1 . What is your full name?

AM: Alicia Ray Macdonald. SM: Sonja June Mills.

2 . Where were you born?

AM: I was born in Truro, Nova Scotia.

SM: I was born at St. Clare’s Hospital (in St. John’s), but I grew up in Clarenville.

3 . Where do you live today?

SM: We both live in Port Rexton.

4 . Who do you follow on social media?

AM: I follow @vintagefindsforpaws. It’s an Instagram that somebody basically posts vintage finds and the sales go to the local SPCA in Clarenville.

SM: I follow @project.vanlife (on Instagram). My dream is someday to convert a van into a little long-haul camper.

5 . What would people be surprised to learn about you?

AM: Before brewing, I was a nurse practitioner, and before nursing, I was a registered massage therapist. That led me to a job over in Whistler (B.C.), and I did some bartering — did some massages for bungee jumping.

SM: I worked at a bar in Turkey, in Istanbul, for like two weeks — also to barter for room and board. It was a rooftop hostel bar.

6 . What’s been your favourite year and why?

SM: My dad (Corwin Mills) ended up getting diagnosed with ALS (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, a progressive nervous system disease) and he passed away about a year after he was diagnosed. The last year that he was still healthy, we actually did a lot. And we didn’t know anything that was going to happen . ... And then my mom and I went to Norway. We skied and hiked high up in the mountains. We did a bunch of hiking around Newfoundland, different places, and I just got to do some (things) with him and that was probably a year or two before diagnosis . ... I think 2012 would have been it.

7 . What is the hardest thing you’ve ever done?

AM: Open a brewery? Definitely. I remember blood, sweat and tears in 2015 and 2016. Just the regulatory stuff, the hiccups, the back and forth with the government. The well collapsed . ... And it goes to show the motivation and determination by Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, because there are quite a few breweries now. Everybody goes through the same thing.

8 . Can you describe one experience that changed your life?

AM: I would definitely say my celiac diagnosis, for sure. Starting a brewery and very passionate about your product, and then not being able to sample it anymore. Luckily, I’m brewing a gluten-free line now, but that was a very life-changing, stressful, emotional, mentally taxing event in my life.

9 . What is your greatest indulgence?

SM: Coffee. Very simple, but I love good coffee and I will travel and if I’m staying somewhere, I need to find out where the good coffee is. AM: I indulge in nachos . ... Any time I’m struggling for supper ideas, easy go-to.

10 . What is your favourite movie or book?

SM: I don’t really have a favourite movie or book. I recently rewatched (2007 adventure-drama) “Into the Wild” and I forgot that I really enjoyed it. I love that it’s a true story . ... I really enjoyed the soundtrack by Eddie Vedder as well.

AM: Same thing — I don’t have a favourite movie . ... But my favourite books are anything by (ancient Greek philosopher and polymath) Aristotle. I really like reading philosophy books.

11 . What do you like to listen to?

SM: Future Islands and Hot Chip.

AM: I love listening to “Glee” (U.S. TV series) soundtracks.

12 . How do you like to relax?

SM: I just love going for a walk . ... I don’t like speed walking or doing it for fitness or anything like that. Just going for a walk and taking in all my surroundings and just looking and freeing my mind and clearing my head. AM: Mine is literally just sitting down and putting my feet up. Glass of wine maybe, or a beer. I remember working at nursing shifts, and you just need to sit down, put your feet up for a second.

13 . What are you reading or watching right now?

SM: I’m reading a book called “Migrations” by Charlotte Mcconaghy. It’s really good. AM: I’m watching new and rerun episodes of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”

14 . What is your greatest fear?

SM: Things that can fly or jump and bite and sting. Flies or jumping spiders that can hurt me in some way. I was just in Costa Rica a month ago and I walked into a spider web with a spider the size of my hand — including my fingers. I just about died. It didn’t touch me.

AM: My biggest fear would probably be failing at something. I like to make sure I get everything right. Not perfect, but right. I don’t take failures very well.

15 . How would you describe your personal fashion sense?

AM: Mine’s thrift store and versatile. I can wear Blundstones and brewing clothes to high heels and a dress, and everything in between. SM: I’d say more adventure casual.

16 . What is your most treasured possession?

SM: I have an old wooden cross-country ski that was my dad’s. I don’t know if it was the ’60s or the ’70s. He got it in Norway. It’s a ski (event) over there called the Birkebeiner and ... it’s a long distance, and you have to do it with a 30-kilogram pack on your back. And it’s a re-enactment .... somebody saved the future king when he was just a baby or small, because I think it was during a war . ... They skied for 100 kilometres or however long it was to bring the future king to safety, and then they have this commemorative ski every year.

My dad participated in Norway back when there were still wooden skis . ... It’s got “Birkebeiner” written on it . ... One of them cracked off, but I have the other one that is still in good shape. I just keep it on display at my house. AM: Basically anything that’s been passed down from my great-grandparents, grandparents and parents. I have a lot of antique furniture. A few things in the actual brewery, the taproom, are my grandmother’s or grandfather’s, and I’ve got a few things at the house.

17 . What physical or personality trait are you most grateful to a parent for?

AM: My mom was a nurse as well, so I would say — and people might be surprised to learn this — I guess that compassion and hard work would be two (traits) that I would attribute to my mother. Stubbornness from my father (laughs).

SM: From my dad, I think I got a sense of being able to see things from two sides, like diplomacy. Being in various situations, being able to be diplomatic, which is why I had a hard time practising law ... because I can see things from both sides . ... For both my mom and my dad, a sense of adventure and always wanting to go do stuff.

18 . What would you say is your best quality, and what would you say is your worst quality?

SM: I guess my best quality would be similar to what I kind of got from my parents, that personality trait maybe — that sense of adventure. One of my worst qualities, I would say, is I’m very particular. And that can be to a fault. AM: I would say my best is I’m pretty easy-going. And I’ll add that stubbornness is my negative trait.

19 . What is your favourite place in the world?

SM: I really love Port Rexton. ... We get to live a rural lifestyle, and all the benefits of a small community. Everyone knows everybody. You can carve out your own space here as well, which is nice if you don’t want to always be up in everyone’s business. It’s got a nice balance to it. But then in the summertime, we have all these businesses that are here for the tourism industry that we really get to benefit from. It feels like you’re no longer in a rural community. A place where there’s all these (businesses) like Two Whales Coffee Shop, where you get espresso coffee. Or Fishers’ Loft for fine dining overlooking the ocean . ... And then in the wintertime, it’s cozy here. You need a break from it all. ... The physical geography is really unique. And the people, too.

AM: My favourite place is my home. Whether I was living in Truro — I had a home there, I loved it there. We’ve lived in Halifax. We had a home there, I loved it there. Now living in Port Rexton, I love it here.

20 . Which three people would join you for your dream dinner party?

SM: I would just want three people who I love to be there ... it could be any three that I love and laugh with.

AM: I think it would be really cool to have dinner with three strangers.