Jaega trained in chemical engineering and worked in the industry for several years before discovering her true calling: brewing. Born and raised in Nottingham, Jaega’s love of beer was fostered by the impeccable cask beer and pale ales that the Midlands region is renowned for. She was an avid homebrewer and found the skills she gained in engineering to be a real asset in brewing beer.

In 2012 she co-founded Wild Card Brewery with William Harris and Andrew Birkby, two friends from Nottingham. They initially used the brewing equipment of others and then with a small brewing kit in the basement of a pub, before setting up their first brewery in Walthamstow, East London. As the business steadily grew, Jaega started to receive acclaim for her brewing,  and in 2018 was named joint winner of the British Guild of Beer Writers' "Brewer of the Year" award along with John Keeling of Fullers Brewery. Jaega again won the coveted title "Brewer of the Year” in 2022 presented by the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group.

Jaega is a fierce advocate for equality and diversity within the brewing industry.  In November 2017, she called for groups such as the Society of Independent Brewers (SIBA) and the Campaign for Real Ale to ban beers featuring sexist language or imagery from being sold at beer festivals or entered into competitions. She was also a leading force in the introduction of an advertising code of practice for breweries and beer producers.She is a regular participant in International Women's Collaboration Brew Day to commemorate International Women's Day, which aims to promote communication and collaboration among women in the brewing industry. 

As well as brewing, Jaega is also a TV and radio broadcaster. In 2018, Jaega became a regular presenter on the BBC Radio 4 Food Programme covering the  drinks industry with a particular focus on racism and disability issues. In 2020 was awarded "Best Beer Broadcaster" by the British Guild of Beer Writers for her work. 

She is also the co-host the Amazon Prime series Beer Masters alongside singer James Blunt. The series follows teams of Europe's best homebrewers competing in challenges and recreating beer styles from around the world.

Her first book - Wild Brews:The craft of home brewing, from sour and fruit beers to farmhouse ales is released in 2022. It explains the science behind the brewing process of wild fermented beers and shares her recipes. It also explores how to brew, bottle, and age your beer in wooden barrels, and how to produce a range of different sour beers. Jaega’s debut book is offically a best seller, hitting number 1 across all beer books & all drink books categories.

Awards:

Best Debut Drinks Book for ‘Wild Brews’ , Fortnum & Mason, 2023

Best Drinks Book Nominee for ‘Wild Brews’ , James Beard, 2023

10 Most Influential Woman in Food Industry, Waitrose, 2023

Brewer of the Year, All Party Parliamentary Beer Group, 2022

Best Beer Broadcaster, The British Guild of Beer Writers, 2020

Alcohol Power List, Top 10 Most Influential, The Grocer, 2018

The Progress 1000 London's most influential people, 2018

Brewer of the Year, The British Guild of Beer Writers, 2018