We often think of the beer industry in terms of its final product: ales and lagers. But those beers are designed, brewed, and sold by people. This panel discussion will focus on the work that goes into beer, and the labor used to produce it. We'll explore how immigration, organized labor groups, race, and gender have shaped America's beer industry, from historic and contemporary perspectives. Moderated by Kate Bernot.

This event is generously supported by Adam Hitchcock and Sarah Kammerer.

Speakers: 
Kate Bernot is a reporter and editor covering the beer industry for Good Beer Hunting, Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine, and other outlets. She was previously the beer editor at DRAFT Magazine and is a BJCP-certified beer judge. She lives in Missoula, Montana.

Blake Dahlstrom (she/her) is a lab technician at Anchor Brewing Company. She is also a Bargaining Committee member and Shop Steward for Anchor Union (ILWU Local 6); in that role, her focus has been to build an effective model for what a union contract can look like for food and beverage employees. Because of Anchor’s contract, the company has been able to expand opportunities and provide job protection through the union for bar staff and production alike, during Covid-19 and beyond.

Ryan Dearinger (he/him) is Associate Professor of History at Eastern Oregon University, where he has taught western, immigration, labor, and environmental history since 2009. His first book, The Filth of Progress (University of California Press, 2016) won the 2017 Best Book Award from Phi Alpha Theta, the National History Honor Society. His current book project, Beer's Dirty Work, is a history of the Pacific Northwest's hop industry through the experiences of indigenous, immigrant, and American hop-pickers.

Patrice M. Palmer (they/them) is a doctoral candidate in the School of Education at Baylor University where their work revolves around gender variance, workplace inclusion, intersectional leadership and social responsibility. Patrice is an adjunct faculty member at Colorado State University and currently serves as the Director of Social and Cultural Inclusion for the College of Business. That position is jointly held with New Belgium Brewing Company’s DEI Specialist role. This partnership marks the first U.S. craft beer position connected with an AACSB accredited business administrator role.

Got the Beer Culture Summit Beer Box? This event pairs nicely with Seipp’s Extra Pale or Temperance Brewing’s All The World Is Here.