When Angi Thomas received an unexpected invite to a beer festival, she never thought it would inspire a new passion and career path. After serving up beer at festivals and exploring different styles, it wasn’t until trying a banana bread beer that ignited her curiosity into craft beer. While working for over two decades for AT&T, the Dallas native decided to take a leap of faith and follow this newfound interest in all things fermentation.  

“The scales were removed from my eyes, and I thought, ‘If beer can taste like this, I want to try more beer,’” she says. “It led me to being in the craft beer industry for the last 10 years as a brand ambassador. That kicked off my exploration of everything beer, and I wanted to seek out more people that were just like me. I also went on to be a part of several nonprofit organizations such as Fermenta, Lifting Lucy, and the Pink Boots Society, where I am currently serving as president of the North Texas chapter.”

Since then, Angi’s been motivated to learn across the board when it comes to fermentation and distilling, including her certification as a Cicerone Beer Server to pursuing BJCP credentials to taking on roles as brand ambassador for alcohol companies like Bacardi as well as a brand and sales consultant for commercial beer brands like Heineken and Yuengling. All while committing to educate others about beer and championing inclusivity in the industry.In her efforts to spotlight those underrepresented in beer and similar fields, Angi launched the nonprofit news platform Being Black in Craft, which is dedicated to educating the public on women of color entrepreneurs and business owners within food science, fermentation, health, agriculture, and manufacturing.

“We aim to create a lasting impact, bridging gaps and providing a platform that not only informs but also empowers.”

Learn more about Angi’s journey in beer and her goals for the Being Black in Craft platform. 

Instagram: @BeingBlackinCraftCo 

City: Plano, Texas

Pronouns: She/Her

Ethnicity: Black

Tell us about your journey in beer:

My beer journey started by happenstance. I was at home during a normal Texas hot summer trying to stay cool, and a friend called me. She was working as a brand ambassador for a festival and needed help. I love to serve and volunteer, but when she said they would pay me, I told her I would be there in 30 minutes. I still had no idea about beer, styles, flavor profiles. I basically had the attitude of, “Do you want it or not?” I was horrible…sorry to those poor customers. I didn’t even drink beer. I was uneducated in the field, but I liked the vibe of the beer community. It wasn’t until I was near a tap that served an Eagle Brewery (formerly Wells) Banana Bread beer that I became intrigued. The smell was amazing, and the more I stood by the tent, the more I wanted to give it a shot. I took a sip…then I took a drink….then, I had my own cup for the rest of the festival. The scales were removed from my eyes, and I thought, “If beer can taste like this, I want to try more beer.”

It led me to be in the craft beer industry for the last 10 years as a brand ambassador. That kicked off my exploration of everything beer, and I wanted to seek out more people who were just like me. I also went on to be a part of several nonprofit organizations such as Fermenta, Lifting Lucy, and the Pink Boots Society, where I am currently serving as president of the North Texas chapter. 

 What is something you're proud of in your craft beer journey so far?

I’ve reached so many milestones during my career, but one of my proudest moments has been cultivating a beer community in Being Black in Craft. It started out during the pandemic and morphed into a podcast that highlights BIPOC industry leaders and assists with sharing knowledge to elevate the mission for more BIPOC in the industry.

-Angi Thomas

Now we are three years strong, and being an introvert who is happiest reading a book and drinking a beer in the corner to now seeking out and interviewing guests is wild to me. This has also created Black Beer Delegates, which is heavily BIWOC, a membership community that truly enjoys finding new breweries and monthly bottle shares. It’s a welcome addition to our city and growing.

How will you use this grant opportunity to further your craft beer journey?

A media grant for Being Black in Craft Media would be transformative for our nonprofit, propelling us to become the go-to platform for news and updates in the craft scene. 

With enhanced resources, we can elevate the professional quality of our podcast, blogs, and other content, ensuring a polished and engaging experience for our audience. This grant would enable us to reach a wider demographic, fostering inclusivity and amplifying diverse voices within the craft community. By investing in our media capabilities, we aim to create a lasting impact, bridging gaps and providing a platform that not only informs but also empowers. Your support would be instrumental in fortifying our mission to make Being Black in Craft Media an influential hub for all enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.

This grant is going to assist me with fine-tuning the podcast and gaining more outreach to our audience. My plan is to be the BIPOC Beer NPR. I’ve been doing a lot of this on my own, and my desire is to put out great quality content. It’s been challenging and a lot of YouTube University sleepless nights to get out developed content. I will utilize the knowledge of craft beer industry leaders to the fullest capacity of my being.

Any favorite brews or other beverages you enjoy? Breweries or bars that are your favorite that you'd like to share?​

When I go into a brewery, the first thing I’m going to try is a Hefeweizen or a Witbier. Manhattan Project Beer Co, a brewery located in Dallas, has been on rotation to go and hang out. They have amazing beer and great food. I can always say I’m going and get a couple of folks showing up to drink with me. 

My favorite bar is called Whiskey’s. It’s a Black-owned bar that’s nestled in a revitalized neighborhood of Fair Park. It’s a place where the music is soothing, the drinks are amazing, and the staff are like old friends. My first order is the Smoked Old Fashion. If you know me, you know that this is my signature drink.

Is there a mantra or quote you live by?

My mantra is “Take me as I am or watch me as I go.” At our big age, you should accept people for who they are and appreciate their differences compared to yourself. That’s what makes life not so boring. You can learn from another culture, lifestyle, or language. If you can’t, I’m shaking the dust off and moving right along with life.

Follow along with Angi on Instagram: Beingblackincraftco, Facebook: Black in Craft Media and Youtube: Being Black in Craft Media.