Oregon Brewers Guild Launches Mashing Barrier

New Internship Program Focused on Creating Employment Access for Underserved

The Oregon Brewers Guild announces the launch of their new Mashing Barriers Internship Program. The Guild’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee set the work in motion in early 2021, focusing on creating employment access into the Oregon brewing industry for underserved individuals.

“The brewing industry has been historically dominated by white cis men”, said Christina LaRue, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild. “Our goal with this program is to partner with our member breweries and help open the door for those that have come up against barriers – women, people of color, LGTBQ+…really anyone who has struggled to gain access. It has been a labor of love over the last year and we are very excited to see it finally come to fruition.”

The program will partner one intern per quarter with a Guild member brewery, and kick off this April with Von Ebert Brewing in Portland, Oregon. The paid internship will run for twelve weeks and will follow a thorough program syllabus, created to offer the intern training and education across multiple facets within the brewery.

“The program was created as a next step for the Guild’s DEI work”, shared Sonia Marie Leikam, owner of Leikam Brewing in Portland and DEI Committee Chair. “We see this as an opportunity to provide education and mentorship to individuals who historically have not been a part of the industry and who have  experienced challenges in accessing employment due to lack of hands-on experience.  It is our hope that this program will grow and we can strengthen the industry from the inside.”

Additional details, including the program syllabus can be found via the website at https://www.oregoncraftbeer.org/mashing-barriers and any interested individuals can apply via the online application form. Applications for the Von Ebert internship will be accepted from now until February 28th.

“We worked very hard this past year to create a paid internship that will help people who don’t necessarily see themselves reflected in the craft beer community. From grain to glass, this program delves into every aspect of the brewing process and beyond, which makes it a phenomenal opportunity for someone looking to get involved”, shared Madeleine McCarthy, Brewer for Von Ebert Brewing and DEI Committee member. “This is just the first step in making the craft beer scene more accessible to all who are intrigued; I’m so thrilled to be a part of the Mashing Barriers Internship program.”

As this is a paid internship, the Oregon Brewers Guild will be assisting with the program costs. The Guild launched their first Pint Day event in December 2021 as a fundraiser for the program and will also be running a fundraising campaign over the next two months. If you are interested in supporting, donations can be made online via the website https://www.oregoncraftbeer.org/mashing-barriers

About the Oregon Brewers Guild

The Oregon Brewers Guild is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and protect the state’s craft brewing industry and the common interests of its members. Founded in 1992, the Oregon Brewers Guild is one of the nation’s oldest craft brewers associations.
Website: OregonCraftBeer.org
Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @OregonCraftBeer

This 16 Mar 2022 update:

Guild Announces Individual Selected for Internship at Von Ebert Brewing

Earlier this year, the Oregon Brewers Guild announced the launch of their new Mashing Barriers Internship Program, focused on creating better employment access into the Oregon craft brewing industry for underrepresented individuals. Over the past two months, a subcommittee of the Guild’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee has been interviewing applicants and has officially selected their first intern, Jessica “Jess” Hardie.

“It is exciting to finally see the hard work and dedication put forth into creating this program come to fruition and to know that we are doing everything we can to help bring positive and necessary change to our industry”, said Christina LaRue, Executive Director of the Oregon Brewers Guild. “We had a total of six individuals who interviewed for the internship with Von Ebert, all of which were outstanding candidates, making our decision difficult, but in the end we feel we made the right choice. ”

“We had a very strong pool of applicants for our launch of Mashing Barriers”, stated Madeleine McCarthy, brewer at Von Ebert Brewing and member of the OBG DEI Committee. “I’m thrilled that we garnered so much interest, and I think Jess will be a fantastic representative not only for the Guild, Von Ebert, but the Oregon Craft Beer community as a whole.”

Jess recently made the decision to leave her high pressure role in the video game tech industry to explore new employment options. She comes to the program with over eight years of homebrewing experience and a true passion for the craft beer industry and community.

“Mashing Barriers spoke to me not just for the program itself and what I’m going to be learning over the next few months, but the community that this is going to build with each new intern selected”, stated Jess Hardie. “Before long we’ll have a group of BIPOC folx in the beer industry, brewing up new ways to open doors that have historically been closed to peoples in our communities.”

“I am so thrilled for Jess as the first Mashing Barriers Internship recipient! She stood out among our candidates and I am so excited to see where her career in beer takes her”, shared Casey Helwig, Sales Manager at Imperial Yeast and Co-Chair of the OBG DEI Committee.

Jess will begin her twelve-week internship this April at Von Ebert Brewing in Portland and will follow a thorough program syllabus, created to offer her training and education across multiple facets within the brewery and craft brewing industry.

“The Mashing Barriers internship is an amazing opportunity that I’m honored to be able to participate in”, shared Jess. “Not only will I be able to get direct hands-on experience with the Von Ebert team, but I’m really looking forward to visiting Crosby Farms, Imperial Yeast and Great Western and speaking to the people whose craft makes it possible to do what I love.”

For more program details or information on how you can support through donation, please visit the website https://www.oregoncraftbeer.org/mashing-barriers.

Questions about the program can be sent directly via email to Christina LaRue, Executive Director.

About the Oregon Brewers Guild

The Oregon Brewers Guild is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote and protect the state’s craft brewing industry and the common interests of its members. Founded in 1992, the Oregon Brewers Guild is one of the nation’s oldest craft brewers associations.