I’ve always felt it’s important to make a difference in this world, but aside from the very brief dream of becoming the starting nose tackle for the Buffalo Bills, I’ve never quested for celebrity. I was always taught to keep my nose down, work hard and do the right thing. Any accolades that come along were ancillary. You work for the purpose, not for the reward.
We have worked hard to make sure that Round Guys Brewing Company is a place where all are welcome, as long as all are respectful. It’s something I feel very strongly about.
In 2019, the Brewers Association created a position for a Craft Beer Diversity Ambassador and hired Dr J. Nikol Jackson-Beckham to fill that role. She is a professor, a home brewer and a craft beer drinker. She seems perfect for the role. Our guild, The Brewers of Pennsylvania, has been working with member brewers on topics of diversity. At our annual Mid Atlantic Symposium, Dr J. led two seminars. While the room was filled mostly by bearded white dudes, the majority agreed that diversity is a good thing.
I left the first seminar wondering what I can do next. What were my experiences with diversity in the craft beer industry? Can I fix this?
I grew up in an area of Buffalo that was mostly white and mostly Catholic. In fact, I didn’t know that protestant ministers could marry until middle school when Tim Runge told me about his dad’s church. My background is not steeped in diversity. The same could be said for my time at the University of Notre Dame: mostly white and mostly Catholic. All of that changed in August 1996, when I moved to Baltimore and got a job where I was one of three white employees in an office of 54.
This was the first time I was not a member of the majority culture. While that was a long time ago, I still remember how I felt. It’s when I fully became aware of my race. My time in Baltimore taught me a lot about inclusion. My co-workers and colleagues were more than happy and gracious to include me in their world. It was an experience I’ll never forget.
Round Guys Brewing Company has been working closely with the LGBTQ community for over six years. I think we have built a nice space where all can feel comfortable. One of the things I learned in the seminar from Dr. J is that part of creating a more diverse experience for all is to look to remove any barriers that were knowingly or unknowingly put in place. While our place is open to all, we as a company need to make sure we reach out and let those communities know they are welcome. We have to talk about it, shout about it. Just having a mindset that diversity is good isn’t enough.
I am aware that the topic of diversity can be a trigger point for some people. I want to be clear that I am not talking about quotas. Diversity is not hiring more people of color, nor is it how diverse our customers are in the underground or at the pub. Diversity is about reaching out to different communities, of all colors, religions and ages (over 21 please), and letting them know that they can apply for a job, or they can come in for a beer.
Dr. J also shared that a lack of diversity cannot be fixed. It requires consistent hard effort. She also had an amazing approach. She speaks of viewing a lack of diversity not as a problem, but rather it should be viewed as an opportunity. People are more likely to work with each other if there is an opportunity.
Over the next few months, Round Guys Brewing Company and The Underground will be announcing many events that we hope will bring additional opportunities to Lansdale and its residents. Currently, we are working with La-Ri Douglas and LAD (Lansdale After Dark) to bring some more diverse entertainment to the Underground. We will be starting a “Bottles and Brushes” event at La-Radiance Salon with craft beer, craft soda and painting. Along the way, I hope to learn, create opportunity and see the town of Lansdale continue to grow.
Who is with me?
Scott Rudich is the head brewer and co-owner of Round Guys Brewing in Lansdale, PA. Rudich is heavily involved in the local beer scene, and was awarded the Brewer Award at the 2013 StarChefs’ Philadelphia Rising Stars Gala. This opinion column is sponsored by Round Guys, and appears every Tuesday on North Penn Now. If you have any questions or comments, please email them to [email protected].
See also:
Round Guys: Selling Is Not Selling Out
Round Guys: Embracing The Moments
Round Guys: Collaborative Brewing
Round Guys: Welcome To The Party, Pals!
Round Guys: The Parallels Between Indie Bands And Brewers
