The Texas Craft Brewers Guild recently launched an Instagram series called #BehindTheBeer featuring the people behind the scenes working hard to bring you excellent Texas craft beers. As you can imagine, in an industry that has a $4.5 billion-dollar impact on the Texas economy, there are a variety of jobs that extend beyond the brewing process including packaging, laboratory technicians, quality assurance, marketing and much more.
Craft Beer Austin has partnered with the Texas Craft Brewers Guild to expand on #BehindTheBeer with a series of articles featuring each highlighted Guild member.
For this installment, meet Millie Clark, Events and Production Manager at Austin Beer Garden Brewing Co., also known as The ABGB.
What did you do before you started working for a brewery? What brought you to this brewery?
Prior to working for The ABGB, I was working at The University of Texas at Austin in Biomedical Engineering. I was a Lab Manager/Research Assistant for a lab studying breast cancer. I headed up a study on Intraductal Delivery, an alternative to systemic chemotherapy. I’ve even published a research paper! Working in a research setting is very dry and introverted. I tend to be pretty outgoing so lab life was hard for me! When I heard that The ABGB was looking for an Events and Production Manger, the choice to apply was easy as it has been my favorite Austin brewery even before it opened.
If someone asked you to describe the current state of today’s craft beer climate what would you say?
To be honest, I don’t think about that much! I hope everyone making craft beer with a commitment to quality can find their version of success in our industry.
What’s the most interesting story behind one of your beers?
APA! APA! a single-hopped American Pale Ale that benefits Austin Pets Alive! Long Stay Dogs. We donate $1 of every pint which has added up to nearly $50,000 donated! We’re currently on batch 11 of the series which features a hop called Idaho 7. With each APA! APA! release, we host a fun party here at the brewery. These parties have resulted in many adoptions and have raised an additional $35,000 for pets in need!
What beer other than your own, are you currently drinking the most of?
My husband and I recently took a day trip to The Hill Country and visited Vista Brewing. The Zwickled Pink, a dry hopped lager was on point! It happens to be a collaboration beer with The Austin Chapter of The Pink Boots Society! Needless to say, we bought SEVERAL crowlers to go.
Keep up with The ABGB’s events on Craft Beer Austin and follow them on Facebook, Instagram & Twitter.
To keep up with the #BehindTheBeer series on Instagram, simply follow the hashtag and follow the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. If you are a member of the Guild and would like to participate in this series, please check the latest Guild newsletter for details.
