Felicia Reninger Oral History Interview, December 7, 2020

Partial Transcript: Okay, wonderful. So go ahead and introduce yourself and we will get started with the interview itself.

Segment Synopsis: Reninger discusses her early life and upbringing. She was born in Santa Maria, California, and raised in Paso Robles. She notes that it was a largely rural area and that the main industry was agriculture.

Partial Transcript: So you said your dad was stationed. What did he do? Was he in the military? Was he stationed?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger discusses her family background. She was raised by her mother and father and has two younger siblings. Her father was in the army, while her mother was a stay-at-home mom. Reninger notes that her family largely came from the eastern regions of the U.S. and that her parents ended up in California largely by chance.

Partial Transcript: So what did you what did you like to do when you were growing up?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger discusses her childhood interests, which included reading, music, art, and road tripping. She also reminisces about her experiences in summer camp and discusses her favorite academic subjects, including English literature and history.

Partial Transcript: What did you think you were going to do when you were a little kid?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger notes that she was initially interested in pursuing a career in education, and worked at a daycare while she was in high school. She recalls some details about her experience working in the daycare, including her relationships with her colleagues, with the parents, and with the students themselves.

Partial Transcript: Were there any things, any significant historical events that happened?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger recalls some of the influential pop culture and political events that occurred during her adolescence and early adulthood. She remembers different popular musicians and movies, and reflects on a few protests she witnessed while in high school.

Partial Transcript: So what made you move to Southern Oregon?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger explains that she initially moved to Southern Oregon because a friend of hers was living there. She talks about the jobs she worked after the move, including as a barista, her social group, and her favorite activities.

Partial Transcript: What about food and drink when you are there? What are some of the things that you were introduced to or, you know?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger talks about her memories of Oregon’s food culture. She explains that coffee and roasting were both very popular when she was in her twenties, as was beer.

Partial Transcript: Did you start homebrewing when you were in southern Oregon, or was that something that caught on once you came up to Portland?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger discusses her first experiences with homebrewing. She first tried experimenting with homebrewing because a friend of hers was interested, and quickly became passionate about it. She first tried making porters before expanding to other types of beer. Reninger remembers her friends in the homebrewing community and describes the general demographic makeup of homebrewing hobbyists at the time.

Partial Transcript: So timeline wise, you went to Rogue Community College and went to beer camp for Sierra Nevada. Did you move to Grants Pass or were you commuting to Grants Pass?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger discusses her experiences attending Rogue Community College, where she studied biology. She also describes her enrollment in the Sierra Nevada Beer Camp, where she studied brewing in a professional atmosphere.

Partial Transcript: At that point, did you want to pursue a career in beer? Was that was was that sort of you had reoriented yourself and knew that this was something that you wanted to get paid to do?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger notes that because of her passion for homebrewing as a hobby she ultimately became interested in pursuing a career in the brewing industry. However, she was unsure how to get a start in the beer industry in Southern Oregon, so continued working other jobs, such as travel agent, for a period of time.

Partial Transcript: So how did you end up in Portland? What was what was the impetus for you to move to the other end of the I-5 corridor?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger discusses her move to Portland. She describes the area she lived and her memories of Portland. She briefly discusses the food scene, and recalls some of her favorite breweries.

Partial Transcript: Tell me about what, what that job was like and then what the transition for you was like to being a beer and wine expert.

Segment Synopsis: Reninger’s first job in the alcohol industry was as a wine salesman. She remembers enjoying the jobs and felt that it helped her to grow her confidence.

Partial Transcript: So what are what are some of the places that you experienced? What are what are some of the that like the breweries that we're learning grounds for you?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger recalls some of her favorite Portland breweries and restaurants, including Stormbreaker Brewing, Slab Town restaurants, and Vertigo. She discusses how the popularity of brewing in Portland impacted the market and how the food and alcohol industries related to each other.

Partial Transcript: So how how did those experiences build into sort of how you think about the industry now?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger reflects on how her first jobs in brewing impacted the way she thinks of brewing as a whole and how she feels brewing has changed over the course of her career.

Partial Transcript: I'm curious about during that four year period, who mentored you? Did you feel like you had people?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger talks about her mentors in the brewing community, specifically some of her colleagues in Oregon brewing, and notes that she feels she has learned a lot from more experienced brewers throughout her career.

Partial Transcript: So talk about the the transition between Three Creeks and where you work now. How did you end up in your current job?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger discusses how she began working at Montavilla Brew Works. She notes that she took her current position after being laid off from the previous institution she was employed at. She describes how her current position differs from some of her past work; she’s now more involved in the development of new beers and in the brewing process itself, which she states that she enjoys.

Partial Transcript: What has the transition because of COVID looked like for you and for the company?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger discusses how Covid-19 has impacted the brewery she works at. She talks about reducing the on-site employee presence, focusing sales towards distributors such as supermarkets and retailers rather than restaurants, and the struggles to stay afloat financially.

Partial Transcript: Talk about that, the physicality of it. I think that's something that can be an issue for women in brewing, there's upper body strength, there's shirts not working, there's getting into spaces and having issues with distribution in body.

Segment Synopsis: Reninger discusses her experiences as a woman in the brewing industry. She notes that it’s important to find suitable equipment and clothing, as most of it isn’t designed for women. She notes that the brewing industry is largely made up of men, although over the past decade more women have become brewers.

Partial Transcript: I'm curious about how how you've been a part of festivals or collaborations or partnerships.

Segment Synopsis: Reninger talks about collaboration in brewing. She notes that in her view it’s a highly collaborative industry, and that people generally enjoy working together. She mentions some collaborations she’s participated in and helped with, and briefly discusses the role of beer festivals in introducing brewers and providing a place for collaboration.

Partial Transcript: So what function has the Pink Boots Society served for you? Once you realized that it was for all the people?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger reflects on her experiences with the Pink Boots Society, an organization of women brewers.

Partial Transcript: Where are spaces that feel welcoming but also make you feel aware of your own identity in a good and bad way? Maybe.

Segment Synopsis: Reninger talks about her views on representation in the brewing industry. She returns to discussing how women in the brewing industry are treated, recalling sometimes she’s felt overlooked and subjected to sexist treatment. She also talks about the treatment of queer people int he brewing industry.

Partial Transcript: I have one last question, and that is I again, we initially met because we were talking about women and brewing and the history of that. I'm still curious. Do you think of yourself as part of this history now?

Segment Synopsis: Reninger talks about the history of women in brewing and how she views herself in relation to that legacy.