What’s your current position at your brewery, and how did you get started in the craft brewing industry?

I am currently a brewer on a team of three at River City Brewing Company in Wichita, Kan. I am also the only currently active female brewer in the Wichita industry. I got started in the industry through working in taprooms and assisting with brewing as well as packaging and distribution for several local breweries. After attending and completing the Siebel Brewing Technology course, I pursued a career as a brewer.

What’s new at River City Brewing?

We have a new team that I count myself lucky to be a part of. River City Brewing Company is the oldest brewery in Wichita, and we will celebrate 25 years in early 2018. We have six flagship beers and 11 seasonal rotating taps. Our newest beers include several sours, an imperial brown in fermentation, and soon my very first seasonal: a nitro s’mores stout brewed as a welcome-home present for my boyfriend, who is currently deployed.

What’s the best part of being a part of the craft brewing community?

I really love and appreciate the sense of community we have here in Wichita. We have a small number of breweries and we all support each other and provide healthy competition. We are always having wonderful community events and I look forward to each opportunity to thrive in this great industry.

Name a favorite food and beer pairing.

I love a great stout or porter with some killer loaded French fries or a juicy bacon cheeseburger!

What’s your biggest accomplishment unrelated to your job?

I paid for my Brewing Technology course out of my pocket and incurred no debt in doing so. I work hard and I am proud to have been afforded the opportunity to invest in my professional career. Also, I totally paid off my car in record time!

What’s your favorite beer that your brewery does not produce?

I am currently obsessed with Founders PC Pils. A great Pilsner is something I truly enjoy any time of the year.

What’s the most memorable travel destination at which you’ve had a chance to sample the local beer?

I greatly enjoyed traveling to Denver for a previous post-deployment trip with my boyfriend. He is always more than willing to give me a full two days to hit all the spots I want (which I meticulously map out on Google). I love Fiction Brewing, and Jagged Mountain had some great beers on tap as well.

What do you like to do in your time away from the brewery?

I love to do big puzzles. I’m currently working on a 1,000 piece “History of Aviation” puzzle. I invite friends over, order pizza, and everyone brings new craft beers to share. I also enjoy reading and attending live music at local breweries.