In “Meet a Member,” we highlight the people who make up the North American Guild of Beer Writers. It’s a chance to learn more about the wide collection of journalists, podcasters, bloggers, and vloggers who cover the industry. See and archive of these Q&A profiles.
Where can people find you on social media?
@amethyst_heels on Twitter and Instagram
Where can people find your work?
Find recent articles and posts at Craft Beer Amethyst
What topics do you regularly cover?
Beer, Texas beer, Central Texas beer, diversity and inclusion in beer, UK beer, international beer, South Asians in beer and brewing, spirits and food.
What topics would you like to cover more in the future?
International beer, beer events and festivals, everything I’m already doing.
People should consider me an expert on ____ … and why:
Diversity and inclusion in the beer world, because not only do I have strong personal experience of being a consumer and industry professional from a cross-section of marginalised groups on both sides of the Atlantic, I have conducted extensive research on a range of topics and issues surrounding the need for the industry to diversify effectively. These include my work on South Asians in the North American beer scene, how cultural gatekeeping and toxic gratitude manifest themselves in the beer industry, classism and beer and advocacy for different groups taking direct action to improve diversity and inclusion in beer, including the Safe Bars P.A.C.T., Lager & Listen, Craft Women Connect and Air BrewNB.
Also Texas beer and the Texas beer scene – I have written extensively for Texas Highways magazine, PorchDrinking, Pellicle and Craft Beer Austin among others showcasing beer and breweries from around the state, particularly the Hill Country area where I am based.
What’s a favorite thing you’ve created in the last year?
That’s a tough choice, but my piece in Good Beer Hunting on South Asian women in beer, A Rare Gem – or a Llama in a Suit? was very close to my heart as it included my own experiences and enabled me to make new and lasting connections with other women like me in beer. It was also my first longform piece for Good Beer Hunting which was really exciting.
What’s the last great thing you read or heard? (beer or not)
Colson Whitehead’s The Nickel Boys absolutely blew me away, and Bleachers’ Take The Sadness Out Of Saturday Night totally rocks.
What’s a fun fact, hidden talent, or something you enjoy that has nothing to do with beer?
I love film and theatre and actually started my writing career reviewing plays and films at college.
