“ Even as gender-based restrictions continue to topple in modern day society , women only make up a reported 7.5 % of brewers in the U . S . The industry favors women in front-of-house service roles more than in back-of-house production . Amy is proud to be pushing that percentage point ever forward and has actively put herself out there as a leading lady in one of the most remote locations in the country .”
The only constant variable is the usage of Yakima Chief Hops amongst all teams . Everything else that goes into the making of each batch is unique to each brewery . The results will be compared at a conference later in the year with all proceeds going toward education and professional development for women in the beer industry .
The day ’ s participants , besides Amy , were relative newbies to the process of brewing-- at least , it wasn ’ t their main area of expertise .
“ Women in the brewing industry are few and far between . I will always be a supporter of Amy ,” Kellyn explained as her inspiration for driving several hours to work hard all day on the special project . Amy devised a juicy pale ale recipe to show off the Yakima Chief Hops , and everyone set to work following Amy ’ s patient lead .
The brewing space itself is small-- a couple hundred square feet at best-- and crowded with large industrial equipment and many moving parts . The stainless steel brewing equipment is connected to hoses , tubes , levers , gauges and filters in a warm , humid environment , accompanied by a loud cacophony of steaming , hissing compressors , buzzing engines , boiling liquids and beeping alarms . The air is heavy with sweet caramel notes rising from yeasty sugar water bubbling away in a tank . The pungent citrusy hops create a perfect counterbalance to the malty sweetness emanating from the fermenting sugars . Amy moves seamlessly through the steps , inviting her guests to participate , connecting hoses , draining barrels , cleaning and sanitizing equipment , measuring and mixing ingredients . With careful execution an absolute necessity , Amy never loses her cool . The Zen of work is punctuated by Amy ’ s intermittent whistling , the only sound that can cut through the industrial din .
And then there are visitors . People love to stop by to see what ’ s happening , especially on a special day of brewing like the Pink Boots Society Collaboration Day . Amy knows the craft so well that she effortlessly steers the ship from finishing tasks to socializing , and she manages to entertain between brewing and keeping her assistants engaged .
It ’ s an impressive display of mastery for the craft which has been improved by the constraints of a microbrewery . “[ Working on a small scale ] requires innovation . I don ’ t ever stop reading — ever ,” Amy said .
Brick Vault Brewery and Barbecue is open Thursday and Friday from 5 p . m . to 9 p . m ., Saturday from noon to 9 p . m ., and Sunday from noon to 5 p . m . �
24 Cenizo Spring 2022