Cheers & Chat: How Jackie AKA @beer.ballerina Works For Her Beer
Welcome back to our Cheers & Chat series, where we get to know some of the beautiful personalities that make up our weird little fitness-infused craft beer world.
In this post, we are thrilled to introduce you to @beer.ballerina — aka Jackie of Long Island, NY.
Let's Talk About Beer
Work For Your Beer (WFYB): We're so thrilled to chat beer with you, Jackie! When (and how) did your craft beer journey begin?
Jackie (J): Believe it or not, I didn't start drinking until I was 21. When I turned 21, I wasn’t really interested in mixed drinks or malt-based bevvies, but beer was something that I thought was pretty cool, so I went with that.
At the time, I was dating a guy I met in college who would drink craft beer all the time and I liked what he got. I guess that's where it all started! Ha! Now, all I ever want to do is visit breweries, try new beers, and learn about craft beer. I really love the Long Island craft beer scene.
WFYB: We love learning about the first beer that got you INTO beer. Do you remember what that beer was?
J: This one is tough… I’m not 100% sure… But I bet it was Blue Point. I loved going to their previous spot in Patchogue. We’d go there, listen to some live music and drink the tap list. I really loved their Blueberry Ale… Still a sucker for it! Since then, Blue Point has expanded and is still a killer place to chill. You have to get the oysters if you go!
WFYB: Beer and oysters... Yes, please! What about your favorite beer style? What's your "go-to" right now?
J: At this very moment I am still very much living in stout season. As I probably will be forever. But for real, my all-time favorite style of beer is Belgian. That YEAST!
WFYB: Stout season is a VIBE. Full respect on the Belgian beer style, though. We are right there with you. Is there a style of beer that you just can't get into?
J: I’m always down to try anything. I once had a Nacho-flavored IPA when visiting a brewery in North Carolina… I did not like that. But to be general, you won't see me order a super hoppy IPA… And Sours are usually never my first choice.
WFYB: Wow! A Nacho IPA sounds... Interesting. On to one of our favorite questions we ask all of our interviewees: if someone asked you to do a beer share today, what would be the six beers you’d put in your mixed pack to share with them?
J: OMG TODAY!? OKAY—What's in my fridge!? What can I grab real quick!?
Harlequin - Ghost Brewing Co.
Assault ‘n Fudgery 2 - Sand City Brewing Co. & Barrage Brewing Co.
Van Damm Ballet - Small Craft Brewing Co.
Irish Potatoes - 27A Brewing Co.
Mosaic Mo’ Betta - Maui Brewing Co.
Pillbox Porter - Lanikai Brewing Co.
Favorite Craft Breweries
WFYB: Moving into a focus on local craft breweries... what is your all-time favorite brewery in your area?
J: Small Craft Brewing Co. is my FAVORITE… I am in LOVE with their beer and nautical vibes—But you'll always find me hanging around Sand City South playing trivia with my uncle or hanging at the bar and asking the beertenders to put on Ska music.
WFYB: Okay, we will need to dig into your Ska love later (big fans over here!), but we want to hear about the coolest brewery you've ever visited!
J: It’s a tie…
Woodwright Brewing Co. in Dunedin, FL.
The history of this brewery is remarkable! You have to read about it (or visit and ask lots of questions like me lol), but overall it's a woodworking shop where they make cabinetry, furniture, boat components, etc. AND it’s a brewery! They brew delicious German beer and have the cutest outdoor seating area… Loved sitting by the fire pit.
Maui Brewing Co. in Kihei, HI
I loved visiting this brewery on Maui. The ambiance was so chill and the beer was outstanding. The coolest thing about this brewery is that they are “America’s Favorite Solar Craft Brewery''. They use solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems to provide electricity and hot water to brew their beer. I’m obsessed!
WFYB: We loved Maui Brewing, as well, AND we are about to travel to Dunedin, so we will have to add Woodwright to our list! Rounding out our brewery questions: what is one craft brewery that is on your bucket list?
J: I’d LOVE to go to Belgium and drink all the Delirium at Huyghe Brewery. Maybe one day!
#WorkForYourBeer
WFYB: Let's talk fitness! What’s your preferred way to Work For Your Beer?
J: I’m so in love with barre! As a lifelong dancer, I found barre while in grad school back in 2014 and loved it so much I became an instructor. With that, in 2019 I partnered up with my besties to create Barre & Beer Inc. where we pair beer with barre fitness at local breweries!
Another workout I love is my Peloton. I can’t get enough of it! I’ve always loved cycling as my form of cardio, but would always get waitlisted or could not make it to class at local studios because I get home from work so late. Getting a Peloton has seriously changed my life. I LOVE all of Kendall’s classes and Cody's Groove Rides. Although this is a workout that does not involve beer— I often will enjoy a brew after class, which is why my tag is #beersafter.
Also, I LOVE going to beer workout events. I’m a huge fan of TC Diamond Arts’ Pints & Poses classes… Sometimes they have adoptable puppies join the classes. So fun! I also Love Tings Talk’s Stretch & Sip classes at Hops Scotch Bottle Shop. Seriously the best Yoga I’ve ever taken and you get a complimentary beer or mimosa after class!
WFYB: Talk to us more about Barre & Beer!
J: Barre & Beer! Yes, my baby! Barre & Beer takes the full body, low impact fusion of Yoga, Pilates and dance, and pairs it with craft beer! When you take our classes, you get to sip some handcrafted beer, while you workout! We use the bar for balance (Like a ballet barre you’d use in a typical barre class) and your pint of beer is your weight. Luckily, as class goes on and you take a few sips, the weight gets a bit lighter! We have so much fun, you don’t even realize you’re working out!
Allison, my co-partner, started Barre and Beer at The Brewer’s Collective as a monthly class back in 2017. I used to go as a participant and we really hit it off! We both love barre, drinking beer, and are both dance/movement therapists. Instant besties! I took Liz to a class and she fell in love too. After that, we all wound up partnering up and creating our little partnership. We’ve expanded from just one brewery to popping up at different breweries, bottle shops, and other fun locations.
We seriously have the most fun. We’re all certified barre instructors, so we rotate classes, which is great because we can take each other's classes when we’re not leading.
The thing I love about Barre & Beer is our passion. Not just only for fitness & health, but for local and small business. Our goal is to bring folks to the beer scene and show them how fun it is. Try all the things! Majority of our brewery partners are microbreweries… Maybe even smaller than that! So, bringing people in for a good time and encouraging them to hangout after really makes a difference.
Along with that, at every event we partner up with small businesses to giveaway prizes, which we hope gives them even more exposure.
WFYB: Finally, why are you a part of the #WorkForYourBeer community
J: The Work For Your Beer community radiates all of the things I love—Beer, fitness, physical & mental health, community connection, and fun! These are all of the things that are very dear to me and I am so honored to be a part of this community! Mel & Alicia are such an inspiration to Barre & Beer. We appreciate the support they’ve given us! Thank you for everything!
WFYB: We are blushing over here!
Huge thank you to Jackie for taking the time to share her story with us here on the Work For Your Beer blog — and cheers to even more opportunities to chat with incredible members of the craft beer community!
Want to be considered for an upcoming feature? Email cheers@workforyourbeer.com to set up an interview!