At a recent Pink Boots meeting, hosted by Kiki at Flix Brewhouse Round Rock, she brought up an excellent point, why aren’t more women represented in beer media? When I started writing for Craft Beer Austin back in 2015, my first series of articles was about women in beer. I am happy to announce that thanks to Kiki and the Austin chapter of the Pink Boots Society, I am bringing back the Women in Beer series. First up is, of course, Kiki Whatley, assistant brewer at Flix Brewhouse Round Rock.
Tell us a little bit about what your day-to-day looks like:
Typically it’s either brewing and cellar/transfers on the same day depending on the schedule or just a brew or just a transfer. There also kegging off beers for the bar tap wall even though there are 8 long draught lines 70 ft long coming from the cold cellar pulling beer from tanks straight to taps. We don’t typically package beers off a bottling or canning line but we do have beer-to-go sales with growlers and crowlers. There is also admin stuff like COG & inventory spreadsheets along with ordering raw materials ie grain, hops & yeast, etc.
What’s your favorite part of your job?
Well, I can easily say every task I do is my favorite. Brewing is by far the most challenging profession I’ve ever worked. It’s mentally, physically and intellectually challenging. The timing of tasks and the science of it all… I won’t lie, it’s a very hard job but also very rewarding for the ego. I don’t care who disagrees with me on that because they are lying otherwise.
What did you do before you started working in this role?
I was a full-time bartender and beer tender and homebrewer before going pro.
What brought you to this role?
My love for beer and science specifically and also home brewing. Making beer at home was so much fun when I first started doing it.
If someone asked you to describe the current state of today’s craft beer climate what would you say?
It’s definitely captured a progressive and innovative audience. The battle between craft beer and macro/commercial breweries is super intense but brewing is really fun all the same.
What beer are you currently enjoying the most?
Man O’ War from Pinthouse Pizza
