Is beer a carb? Only one way to find out as we chat with Megan aka Instagram’s persona @isbeeracarb. Megan is a brewer for @moderntimesbeer, a beer that is so well known, even we’ve heard of it and we cover whiskey! Check out her full interview below.
Megan, could you introduce yourself and briefly describe your Instagram account — what’s your focus and the reason you started it? Do you see this as a business, a hobby, or something in between?
MM: Hi, I’m Megan and I’m an assistant brewer for Modern Times. I started my brewing career on the east coast in 2015 and moved to Southern California in 2016. My Instagram is a mixture of my life working in a brewery, and my adventures and experiences in the beer world.
Originally I created my Instagram because of how new I was on the west coast and in beer. Its sole purpose was for connecting with other industry people and learning. But it accidentally became quite popular, and I saw friends getting paid and flown around the world, so I said why not? I see it as a mixture of a business and a hobby. I don’t make a ton as a brewer, so the occasional extra income is nice. But I also see it kind of as a “photo blog”, where I can share my experiences and knowledge with other brewers around the world.
Let’s talk beer. The beer craft industry seems to be growing exponentially with so many great expressions being released all the time. What are your favorite characteristics or profiles when it comes to beer specifically? What about the beverage draws you in?
MM: I’ve been on a Saison and Grisette kick for awhile. I love that they’re light bodied and easy to drink, but also very complex.
Beer is great because there is an endless amount of creativity. This is why I originally became interested in beer. I really enjoy tasting all the variations of every style.
You are a brewer at @Moderntimesbeer. Can you tell us what the role encompasses and whats the story behind Modern Times Beer?
MM: The Modern Times location I work for is the large production facility. Because of that, the focus there is meeting demands and consistency. We are almost 24/7, so the brewer’s job is to basically keep producing wort.
The Modern Times flagship brewery was opened in 2013 in Point Loma. The name came from a utopian community founded in 1850. Now there are three breweries (SD, LA, PDX), a few restaurants, and a cafe. Modern Times is California’s first employee owned brewery.
What really drew me into Modern Times was the culture and values. Modern is very focused on collaboration/teamwork, quality, and consistency. I love working along side other hardworking, passionate individuals. It’s much different from some past experiences at other breweries.
What advice would you give craft beer distilleries or beer companies looking to use the Instagram social media platform to grow their brand’s image?
MM: Hire someone who knows what they’re doing. Or at least really do your research. I see so many sad instagrams for businesses with awful photos, and/or a lack of understanding of the app. Instagram can be a HUGE help to your business if you know how to use it properly. It’s full of so many great tools to help spread awareness of your brand.
From your perspective what draws the followers to your photos?
MM: I think it’s a number of things, but I’d say the number one thing is how unique my Instagram is. There is an absurd amount of Instagrams with girls and beer. There’s only one other female brewer/influencer that I know of. I’m a minority in my industry, and I share life in a brewery from a different perspective. I also have colorful hair, and the tattoos, which I think a lot of people find appealing or interesting.
Do you have a presence on other social channels and how do those differ to Instagram, in your approach to them and your experience there?
MM: A long long time ago I had a presence (for very different reasons) on Tumblr, and MySpace, but not other platforms currently. I started a blog recently, and sometimes I’m on my friend Melis’ YouTube channel. I feel like I can relax a bit more on the blog because it doesn’t have to be this curated thing. I haven’t quite figured out how to act in Melis’ videos. My humor is a bit dark and dry. Sometimes I don’t know whether I should make the jokes or hold back and be a bit more upbeat and cheery. She didn’t cut out me mentioning bodies in the Baltimore harbor in one of her videos. So there’s that.
The greatest lesson you’ve learned in business is…
MM: Do your research, and know your worth. Don’t let people take advantage of you.
How has your Instagram feed evolved over time? Any specific turning points?
MM: Sadly it’s become more photos of me outside the brewery. I work in a production environment now, and how many times can I post a photo of me milling grain or adding hops to a brew? I miss sharing the different things I was doing each day in smaller facilities- barrel work, fruiting, collabs, etc. I still enjoy taking photos though.
How often do you take a break from social media to recharge?
MM: Because it’s become somewhat of a business for me, I don’t really ever get to take a break. I have to consistently post and engage with my audience, otherwise, my account will begin to decline in visibility and growth.
What is your stance on influencers being paid to post about brands? Should influencers be transparent regarding payment for posts?
MM: Influencers should absolutely get paid. I don’t think people fully understand what goes into creating a post. Hair and makeup. Finding an interesting location to shoot. Convincing someone to take the photos. Editing. Posting at the right time, making up a caption, and then engaging with all the people commenting. It’s essentially an advertisement. How much would you pay a model? Photographer? For ad space in a magazine or on a billboard? If your demographic is beer drinkers, and you choose a beer influencer to work with- you are advertising directly to your target audience. And does your model in that magazine actually talk to the people interested in purchasing the product?
I don’t think admitting whether someone gets paid really matters. I see both sides, but if you follow someone, you should be able to get a sense of their authenticity. I specifically made a series of stories awhile back letting people know that I’m only going to promote and rep brands/products that I would share with my friends. I turn down opportunities quite often. Either because I’m uninterested, or because it doesn’t align with my account. Why would I share a skin care line with my audience?
On a personal note, what are some of the most important things in your life?
MM: Spending time with my girlfriend and our mini zoo (three dogs and two cats). Spending time outdoors, and taking in all the beauty of Southern California. Traveling, and having new experiences. Constantly learning and growing. Oh and cheese. I love cheese.
Anything else you’d like to share with our readers?
MM: When you meet a woman who tells you she works in a brewery, don’t always assume she’s a beertender. We are in the back working hard and getting dirty too.
