“You go into bars and it’s basically the United Nations of drinkers, so it was really interesting to see that the sales force [of craft beer] wasn’t as diverse. It has changed over time, but it’s still got a long way to go. And I think that was kind of the start of Beer.Diversity.”
When you think craft beer, what - or who - is most likely coming to mind? It's an industry that is so often dominated by straight white dudes, but that doesn't mean it needs to stay that way. My guest this week, Ren Navarro, is working on improving diversity in beer. Navarro is one of the most well-respected members of the Ontario beer industry, and has worked for years as the face of breweries within her respective sales regions and uses her fervent love of craft beer to bring it towards more diverse audiences.
Navarro is on the front-lines to initiate change both in and out of the industry. Using her perspective as a queer black woman within the industry, she has talked extensively about diversity in craft beer through her company, Beer.Diversity. Ren’s goal is to educate, enlighten, and make craft beer approachable for a more diverse audience. Additionally, Ren is the co-founder and former co-organizer of the Society of Beer Drinking Ladies, which is a Toronto-based monthly beer event that provides a safe and relaxing atmosphere for female-identified people.
Today she’s on the show talking about her work through Beer.Diversity and we explore the culture around craft beer in Ontario. She highlights some ways in which breweries and the industry are starting to shift towards more diverse audiences, and the ways in which diversity makes for better beer and better working environments. Can't wait for you to listen, Ren was the most fun to interview!
Learn More About Ren:
Instagram: @beer_diversity
Twitter: @35mmMonkey
This episode was sponsored by Beekeeper’s Naturals, the company on a mission to make healthy your new normal using bee-based products. To save 15% on your first order, use the code ANTHRODISH at checkout!
