The People of Craft Beer | Marvis Dixon
By Jackie Von Panda
Do you (Really?) know the Middle Man?
“Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you.” – Aldous Huxley
Meaning in life often reveals itself in unexpected and unplanned ways. For Sargent Marvis Dixon, this odyssey began in February 2015. Recently discharged from his Army post at Fort Cavazos in Killen due to injuries sustained during his second overseas combat deployment, Marvis faced a pivotal decision: return home to North Carolina or embark on a new chapter elsewhere. Opting to remain in Texas, he set his sights just south of the base, to Austin.
As Marvis settled into Austin, immersing himself in its vibrant beer culture, he found himself at a crossroads. “I’d never worked in the (beer) industry or hospitality; I was just a customer who wanted to work at a brewery. I’ve always been good with people, linking them together and forging connections. I was always a people person, too. It was just an easy transition,” he reflected.
His innate people skills landed Marvis a job at Family Business Beer Co. later that year, where he worked in the taproom and sales, fostering bonds with his new community. His love for Austin and its people spurred him into action in May 2020, following the tragic death of George Floyd and the subsequent nationwide outcry for justice. Marvis felt compelled to act, using this moment to become a voice for community betterment.
“Being socially engaged with the community was important to me, especially after George Floyd’s murder, and with the Black is Beautiful movement gaining momentum. It felt like a natural calling for me to stand up and continue to do it. It became something great,” Marvis explained. This marked the beginning of his evolution into a social activist, championing racial and social justice, and promoting inclusivity in the craft beer industry.
Kimberly Machado of Weathered Souls Brewing recalls Marvis’s early involvement in the Black is Beautiful movement. “I remember Marvis reaching out early on during Black is Beautiful via social media, and at that time we were very fortunate. The initiative had quickly grown legs and the brewing community came together in solidarity to take a stand for what was right. Marvis’s persistence and passion stood out; he was relentless.”
During this period, Marvis could often be found at breweries across Austin, carrying a large Black is Beautiful flag, rallying support and participation from local breweries to brew their own version of the beer, with proceeds benefiting local racial and social justice charities. In addition, he organized a virtual 5K during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, as well as a follow up 5K support run around the grounds of Jester King Brewery shortly after.
Marvis’s dedication to the Black is Beautiful movement did not go unnoticed by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, who sought his support in coordinating participation for the 2020 Craft Brewers Festival and getting member breweries to brew Black is Beautiful collaborations. Meg Ellis, Deputy Director of the Craft Brewers Guild, shared her thoughts on working with Marvis. “I knew I had to be on my A-game working with him; I cannot drop the ball if I’m working with the Middle Man. We became friends during that process, and now I know him as not only a fierce defender of the causes he commits to but also as one of the warmest, most welcoming, generous, and thoughtful people I know.”
Machado added, “Marvis took it upon himself to go to breweries who hadn’t signed up and asked them why they haven’t. We never asked him to do it, and actually never specifically asked any brewery to participate. It was more organic for us, but Marvis went above and beyond. He was remarkable and so relentless.”
Marvis’s commitment to social activism has remained steadfast over the years, using his experiences cooperating with Weathered Souls along with his standing in the craft beer community to drive change in the Austin community. Jonathan Harris, Head Brewer of Front Yard Brewing and former owner of Hedgehog Brewing in Cedar Park, praised Marvis’s commitment. “He is committed to equality and inclusiveness, making a significant impact not only in the Austin beer scene but also in the city itself. If you’re looking for a way to help, bring change or be an influence for justice, all you have to do is see what Marvis is up to and join in.”
Tyler Hood from Austin Beerworks agrees with Harris, adding,” I think what Marvis does in craft beer just overflows (into the community). His warm energy and wide-smiled demeanor burst life into every conversation and fills your heart with joy.”
This energy is especially felt in Marvis’s other social endeavors stemming from the Black is Beautiful movement, one of which is having become an active member of the 100 Black Men of Austin, where he now serves on the Executive Board as the Parliamentarian. Initially, Marvis coordinated donations for his Black is Beautiful 5K in 2020 to benefit the 100 Black Men of Austin. His involvement with the group grew from there.
Marvis also became involved with movements such as Mas Cultura and DAWA (Diversity, Awareness, and Wellness in Action) through his interactions with DAWA Founder and Director Jonathan “Chaka” Mahone. When asked about Dixon’s involvement with DAWA, Mahone replied, “I am not exactly sure how he became affiliated with DAWA. He is a person who helps, supports, and finds ways to contribute to a lot of different arts and cultural communities. But he definitely connected DAWA with the beer community, most recently via a (As One) collaboration with Live Oak Brewing.”
Richard Samuel, owner of Riches Art Gallery on East 6th Street, offered similar sentiments as Mahone. Samuel recalls coming across Dixon as a chance encounter a few years back, and their relationship has grown over time. Samuel remembers meeting Dixon back in November of 2021 at the Latino Art Weekend, just months after the artist opened his gallery. Marvis soon after had been a regular patron of Riches, and now works directly with Samuel as the Beverage Director for the gallery, helping coordinate drink setups of art and fashion shows held at the venue. Samuel has also worked directly with Dixon and Shannon Harris of Urban Jungle Brewing by designing the can art for the As One collaboration Dixon and Harris brewed with Holdout Brewing in 2023.
The ‘As One’ Project, a collaboration between Dixon and Harris, commenced in 2022 to sustain the momentum of social awareness and inclusion, aiming to make craft beer and breweries more accessible for the BIPOC community in Austin. To date, the duo has produced five versions of As One in the Austin area, with plans for a sixth installment in collaboration with an unnamed Houston area brewery later this spring.
Despite these numerous commitments and collaborations, Dixon considers them labors of love outside of his role as a Lead Beertender at Fast Friends Beer Co. Dave Childress, owner of Fast Friends, acknowledged Dixon’s pivotal role in the brewery’s development, stating, “Marvis quite literally helped us build Fast Friends, from enhancing our guest experience to shaping our culture and standard operating procedures, and even contributing to building our furniture and bar tops.”
Dixon has also partnered with Fast Friends as part of the brewery’s Do/Love/Live charitable campaign, which focuses on combating the veteran PTSD/suicide epidemic and supporting youth mentorship initiatives. Childress emphasized the brewery’s commitment to supporting their team’s passions and side projects, especially when they align with service and giving back.
Beyond his professional and philanthropic endeavors, Dixon is known in the community for his genuine care for others. Lauren Light, an Austin area DJ and Editor of She An Issue, highlighted Dixon’s supportive presence at events, noting, “(Marvis) always comes to greet me with a smile that lights up his face, and always records and tags me… always. This may not seem that impactful, but for someone like me who’s emerging on the Austin DJ scene, it’s critical. The like, the comment, the share, the tag… we live in a world where we’ve decided that matters.”
Dixon’s hard work has not gone unnoticed, as the craft beer community has recognized his efforts. In 2022, he was included in the Texas Craft Brewers Guild’s inaugural class of winners of the Ambassador of Craft Award, which highlights significant contributions to the industry.
Dixon has set his sights on larger prizes like running for a spot on the Texas Craft Brewers Guild Board of Directors, Dixon was not elected to one of the eleven Board seats, but he remains determined, vowing to run again in 2025. He is committed to continuing his efforts to drive inclusiveness and equality in the industry, confident that his message resonates with others. Dixon summed up his future goals in one statement, “In a world where things are going wrong, change is needed. We must continue to support the challenges of diversity. Love one another and strive to be as one.
