Beer is for Queers: The LGBTQ+ Brewers of SaltFire Brewing Co.

For Jae Vanderwerf and Tanya Sapula, the title of “master brewer” was not one they ever imagined holding. For Vanderwerf, brewing first began as a hobby. After falling in love with the intricate chemistry required for crafting beer and looking for a career change, she joined SaltFire Brewing Co. because of the freedom it extended to its brewers. Outside of her busy days in the brewery, she also serves as a certified beer judge, traveling nationally to taste test craft beers and offer her expertise to other brewers. Sapula, on the other hand, said that the brewing world was something she fell into. Initially working in administration for a larger brewing company, she realized she enjoyed the hands-on aspects of brewing when asked to cover a temporary position at SaltFire two years ago. Vanderwerf and Sapula have been working together since.

In a male-dominated industry, where women hold around 10% of Utah’s craft brewing jobs, Vanderwerf and Sapula recognize the importance of supporting fellow women. As LGBTQ+ individuals, they said that SaltFire Brewing Co. and the craft brewing scene as a whole have been very welcoming, though there still have been times when they faced discrimination and misogyny in the industry. “One of my favorite feelings is walking through the brewery after a long day of work and people taking a double look at us, realizing it was women who made the beer they’re drinking,” says Sapula. Vanderwerf shares that Salt Lake’s craft brewing scene is very supportive, with no rivalry between the local breweries. “There are times when we are short a bag of grain or low on yeast, and you can go around to any brewery, and if they have extra, they don’t mind sharing,” says Vanderwerf. 

“It’s fun to be little ‘beer fairies’ and bring a six-pack of our beer for other brewers to try.”

SaltFire often hosts meet-ups for women and LGBTQ+ groups, something Vanderwerf and Sapula are proud of. “From the outside, beer can feel like a ‘bros-only’ sort of club, but there is a place for queers,” says Vanderwerf. Last year, SaltFire hosted a party for LGBTQ+ brewers and bartenders to join in crafting their annual Pride beer, released every June in celebration of Pride month. They’re eager to plan this event again and want everyone to know that all are welcome. 

These ladies are involved in the entire production process, from brainstorming and crafting to cellaring, canning or kegging beer for distribution, as well as occasionally planning brewery events. It is not uncommon for breweries to have a small core staff, which means each brewer is very familiar with the inner workings of their brewery; SaltFire is no exception. “Brewing is a very labor-intensive job,” says Sapula, while recognizing that seeing the final product is extremely rewarding.

When creating new beers, Vanderwerf and Sapula will pay attention to industry trends and which types of beers are in high demand. Once they decide on the beer type, they get specific on the style and taste. “When we get off work and grab a beer, what are we drinking? What do we want to enjoy?” says Sapula. They will often visit other breweries around the city for market research. “It’s a small industry, so it means a lot to us to go around, meet other brewers and form connections,” says Vanderwerf. “Plus, it’s fun to be little ‘beer fairies’ and bring a six-pack of our beer for other brewers to try,” adds Sapula.

“One of my favorite feelings is walking through the brewery after a long day of work and people taking a double look at us, realizing it was women who made the beer they’re drinking.”

Vanderwerf and Sapula recently released SaltFire‘s newest collaborative brew, the “Ale Satan!” for local heavy metal bar Aces High Saloon. Already in the process of crafting a new IPA, they were excited to work on an exclusive beer for a local bar.

To break up their busy work day, Sapula and Vanderwerf like to keep things light and fun, often making Instagram reels of their brewery shenanigans and witty jokes. You can find Vanderwerf at @queer_beer_nerd and Sapula at @trsap, and follow SaltFire Brewing Co. at @saltfirebrewing for upcoming events and new beer releases. 

Read more local beer and spirits features here:
Born Again in Springdale: Zion Brewery Rises
New Breweries: Chappel Brewing and Helper Beer