On August 19, 2017, Rhythmix Cultural Works, Alameda’s destination for the arts, is celebrating women of wine and song with its upcoming #Rhythmix10 Gala celebration. It’s an action-packed afternoon of live local music, tasty bites, craft beer, fine wine, a silent auction, a wine raffle, and a tasting panel featuring rockstar women in the wine, spirits and beer industries. All proceeds go to support free cultural arts education programs for East Bay youth.
We wanted to take this unique opportunity to spotlight the 2017 Tasting Panel: Spice It Up! (to be moderated by Deborah Parker Wong) in this short interview series.
The East Bay is experiencing a serious boom in quality craft beer-making at the moment. Local independent breweries like Fieldwork, Faction, Temescal, Drake’s, and 21st Amendment are just a few of the brands leading the way in the sunny side of the Bay.
One of the main reasons East Bay beer is so awesome right now is Alameda’s own DeVonne Buckingham. The 36-year-old Drake’s brewer’s ample talent and genuine passion about making great beer, connecting with good people and building community shines through in the pint glass.
Recently, we caught up with her to chat about how beer inspires her everyday, what the key challenges are facing women in the modern beer industry, what advice she’d give young women interested in joining the brewing business, and more. Read on below:
Early on, when did you first discover your passion for beer?
Ten years ago or so, I was on a family camping trip and my brother offered me a beer from a small local brewery. It was a traditional West Coast IPA and I was blown away. I had never really had beer like that. That first beer inspired a love for local, interesting craft beer. Initially, I was a consumer then I began to brew my own. I became fascinated with fermentation and recipe creation. Beer became my biggest hobby.
How did you get inspired to join the business as a professional?
Brewing professionally was never part of my life plan. I was a teacher and about eight months before I started working for Drake’s I quit. I decided I wanted to try and be a stay-at-home mom. I failed. It drove me crazy and I felt like I was losing who I was. I started looking for something that was just mine, something in the world of grownups. I was a regular customer at Drake’s and asked if they had anything that I could do. I started working events, giving tours and bar backing whenever they needed it. I was hungry to learn and willing to work. I ended up on the brew deck brewing a farewell beer with a brewer who was leaving and was offered a part-time job as a production assistant, cleaning drains and scrubbing floors. Part-time became full-time, my knowledge and abilities grew and I worked my way up to my current position.
What’s the focus / mission behind Drake’s Brewery?
We’re an independent brewery focused on great beer, good people and building community.
What’s your favorite Drake’s beer at the moment? Why? Food pairing options?
Ugh! Asking me to pick a favorite beer is like asking me which of my four children I love most. I don’t have a favorite but it’s summertime and, in the summer, I enjoy easy drinking beers like Flyway which is our hoppy Pilsner. Flyway is light and refreshing with a crisp clean and a subtly spicy finish. It pairs well with spicy food as it cuts through the fat and heat. It works well with Thai, Vietnamese, or Mexican dishes that have a combination of fat, oil and heat. Thai Red Snapper in tamarind sauce, roasted duck in red coconut curry, Jamaican jerk chicken and fried calamari. Salmon, herring and shellfish also work well as the snap and bite of pilsner lifts heavier flavors and leaves the more delicate flavors to linger on the palate. Cured meats work well too, cutting fat and pulling salt from the meats.
What are the key opportunities / challenges facing women in the industry today?
While we’re still outnumbered, “the beard” is slowly fading and the face of brewing is changing. Women are drinking, selling and making beer at a higher rate than the industry has ever seen. Folks see and acknowledge that beer is genderless. We still have work to do though. We struggle with the same realities that women struggle with in all industries but because of our numbers our voice is not quite as strong. One of the biggest challenges today is fighting the brewer stereotype. A bearded white male is the traditional, most recognisable image associated with beer. We have to work to redefine that image into something a bit more female friendly.
What advice would you give young women who want to join the brewing industry?
Do it! Read. Drink. Learn and explore. Brew at home. Study math and biology. Kick against norms. Be a total bad ass!
What are you most exciting about to explore / discover at the upcoming Rhythmix 10 event?
I’m excited to try uniquely crafted wine and spirits and meet the women that represent them. I’m also interested in exploring how they relate to each other in the flight and hear the story behind each one.
What does the future hold for you and Drake’s?
Hopefully, lots of great beer!
Want to learn more about Drake’s? Visit Drake’s Brewery and join us on August 19 for the #Rhythmix10 Gala.
