Beyond the Taproom : Exploring Representation in Texas Craft Brewing

The Texas craft beer commercial market has grown tremendously in the past decade, and with it an in-state brewing industry has emerged, including brewery owners and professional brewers of many levels. The demographics of brewing industry owners and employees, however, are largely monolithic with representation of minority groups severely lagging the overall population distribution. Beyond the Taproom: Exploring Representation in Texas Craft Brewing explores this discrepancy with a survey of current statistics for various minority groups, historical data on the alcohol industry and civil rights issues, and a focus on select breweries and individuals working within the Texas craft beer industry.

As part of his research for this book, Paul Hightower interviewed owners, brewers, managers, support staff, and other professionals at Texas breweries (and related businesses) that are owned and operated by individuals who identify with underrepresented demographic groups in the state's craft beer industry. Hightower presents anecdotal information gleaned from those interviews interwoven with statistical and historical information, framing personal stories about the interviewees' challenges and successes within the larger sociopolitical context and history of the beer industry and civil rights movements in Texas and the United States. By doing so, Hightower not only highlights the importance of representation within the craft brewing community but also demonstrates the need for continued examination of the factors impacting the demographics within the industry.

Beyond the Taproom is a significant and unique addition to the formal history of craft brewing in Texas and will inspire newcomers to the industry and serve as a springboard for future research.