Tell us a bit about yourself and how you ended up brewing beer.

I'm Abby, Head Brewer at Boxer Brewing Co. up on the gorgeous Tamborine Mountain. I've been brewing for about seven years now. However, my background is in wine making. We've got a winery right next door called Witches Falls Winery, which has been going for over twenty years.

My dad's a winemaker, so that's our family business. I studied winemaking and I went over to California and studied there as well. When I was over there, I got really into craft beer, it’s a stunning spot to get into craft beer. I wanted to pursue a career in that after my winemaking degree. I did some further study in brewing, and seven years in, we have our own family brewery, Boxer Brewing Co, which I'm so proud of.

We've been going for four years now, and throughout the whole time, we've just been creating quality craft beers for people to enjoy. I love the art and science mix and just creating a product that people can really just sit back, enjoy, relax, appreciate and just have fun with. And that's what it's all about, just being creative and having fun with it. Creating a really lovely community up here on the mountain as well, and just providing great products for people.

What has your experience been like as a woman in your industry?

Overall, it’s been positive. Starting out as a young woman in winemaking and then moving into brewing definitely came with its challenges; you still get the odd backwards comment here and there. But I’ve grown a pretty thick skin over the years and don’t mind giving it back when needed, so I wouldn’t change it.

I also grew up in a family business where what gender you are was never really a thing. It was always about working hard, showing up, putting in the effort, and caring about what you do. My Dad’s a winemaker, and my Mum and Dad built a winery from scratch, so I’ve basically grown up around wineries since I was three. Watching how hard they worked, and being involved in that kind of environment from such a young age, meant I was never really going to let anyone tell me what I can or can’t do.

Once you take that noise out of it, you stop caring so much about what people say and just focus on what you know you’re good at.

Is there any industry lingo you love or find funny?

I don’t know if I really have any go-to industry lingo to be honest.I reckon I just make half of it up as I go. I do tend to describe most of the beers I make as “smashable,” which I’m well aware is doing absolutely no heavy lifting in terms of description… so yeah, I’m probably taking the piss out of myself more than anything and should probably expand the vocab a bit, haha.

That said, I do think both the wine and beer industries have some pretty funny descriptor words when it comes to aroma and flavour. Especially with faults (not that we have any ;)).Things like “sweaty barnyard,” “wet dog,” or “skunky.” There are heaps of them, but there are a few good examples of how things can come across in a poorly made or infected beer or wine.

What’s one tool of your trade you’d be lost without?

Honestly, probably my palate. As much as there’s plenty of gear involved, at the end of the day, you’re constantly tasting, checking, and trusting your own judgement on what’s going on and where things are headed. You can have all the equipment in the world, but if you can’t pick when something’s right (or very wrong), you’re a bit stuffed. It’s definitely something I’ve learned to back over time.

What’s your favourite SÜK garment and how do you like to rep it?

I love the Cropped Roper Suit. I can throw a little singlet under them in summer or layer up with a hoodie in winter, and still feel cute while lifting big bags of grain. They’re super practical but still look good, which is a win. I also like how easy they are to style with different accessories - boots, a beanie, or even a cap completely change the vibe, and you can mix up what you wear underneath depending on the day, from lightweight tees to chunky knits, so it feels like you’ve got a whole range of outfits in one piece.

What’s it like working in a family business?

I absolutely love it. I’m really close with my family, so being able to head off, study winemaking and brewing, travel and work around the world for 10 years, and then bring all of that experience back home has been really special. I’ve been lucky to learn in some pretty amazing places - studying winemaking in California, doing vintages in Napa Valley and the Barossa, and working in breweries in QLD and over in the UK. I also completed my Bachelor of Viticulture and Oenology and a Master Brewing Certificate through UC Davis, which gave me a really solid foundation to build on.

Both of these industries, I’ve genuinely loved learning and getting stuck into. Being able to take all of that and apply it back in the family business makes it feel pretty full circle. I also love this part of the world, so being back close to my family and the dogs is unreal.

Check out the Boxer Brewing Co. website and Instagram.