Thread by @hopforwardbeers

There are so many things I love about craft beer. So many. I loved having the opportunity today to talk to @FullersJohn about his career in brewing; it was great to talk to Jenna and Richard from @RealDrinks_ltd about drinks trends; and it was awesome to chat to newbies...

...to the market @MiddleChildBrewing this evening about winning @themaltmiller homebrewer competition and collaborating with @ElusiveBrew to launch their brewery at @Brewery_Market in 2 weeks time.

All these conversations remind me of why I work 12 hours days sometimes.

I want to remain positive about brewing and beer, which brings joy to so many, and yet (again!) it seems the industry is either sitting idle on its hands and doing nothing about sexism, homophobia, toxicity and workplace abuse, etc...

...or trying to address the issue; having the right intentions and missing the mark; and emphatically not pursing unionisation (which i think is a MUST!).

It's becoming exhausting!

And, frankly, I'm not even a victim of the kind of abuse that's often being discussed...

...so I can't begin to imagine how this kicks up the dirty and dust and all kinds of emotional shite for anyone who has been a victim of abuse at the hands of employers who have failed to protect their staff, especially when it's the hand that feeds that is at fault.

It's hard to keep championing an industry that seems creative and awesome from the outside (and for many, it still does seem those things) but under the hood is just as corrupt and toxic as other types of industries.

So much for beer being a 'welcoming space'.

I don't think craft beer is 'special' by any stretch or should we treat it as so; this kind of thing is happening in human hearts regardless of where you live or what you do for a living.

But - from my point of view, working in it - I'm tired; it's exhausting.

Why can't we *all* just sort ourselves out and admit when we've f***ed up and take the necessary steps - either through repentance, reconciliation, making amends or whatever - to become kinder humans?

You know, 'do to others as you'd have them do unto you' and all that...?!

I certainly don't get it right! (I'm probably not even getting it right now...!)

But I'm trying to do what I can with the limited power and influence (of which I don't have much because I'm not one of the 'cool kids' 😎) to change myself; that's all I can really do.

I have no answers or sound bites or re-tweetables (sorry!). My insights are limited and my understanding of the whole situation is so unbelievably small, so who am I to comment on these things?

All I can do is sort myself out, first and foremost, and then draw attention to and champion some of the great people I know personally, publicly acknowledging them as extremely awesome people in brewing and beer - just so we remember that...

Including @Glidub @BeerAgentSean @MelissaCole @julie_ogrady @beer_revere @tabamatu @Brewery_Market @Jim_Rangeley @Laurara31 @BroadtownBrew @LincolnGBrewing @beerofsmod @TeamUtopian @daisyturnell @JonnyGarrett @CloudwaterPaul @totalcurtis @ahoppyplace and many more who are all...

...completely lovely, sound people who make this world and our industry a better place (and I've only named a few, there are so many others; I shouldn't forget @sazzysinclair, Darren from @IndustrytapShef, @lewisryanart, @Rachael57572816 or @digjb either!).

That's all I have to say about that right now.

I really don't think social media is the best place to discuss any of this; I don't.

You can't capture the nuance or tone of voice; you don't know the the context I'm coming from and I don't know yours either.

As I say, I don't think social media is the best place to progress this conversation. It's a start... but we need desperately *more*.

But I'm not sure where the rest of us mere mortals turn to without social media...! Perhaps a conference or table with the other cool kids... 😟

Or maybe we just shut the hell up and hope for the best.
I want to see a better world and a better industry.

Ultimately, I can only change myself.

(Damn, I should have mentioned @adamnich from @SheffHopcast who is just an amazing guy!)