Cheers & Chat: How Shea AKA @Tispyogi Works for Her Beer
Welcome to our "Cheers & Chat" blog series. With each post in this series, you'll get to know some of the wonderful people behind the craft beer Instagram accounts we love to follow.
In our last post, we chatted with @lizzyyy_10wolde.
In this post, we interviewed @Tispyogi — aka Lashea Johnson of Charlotte, NC. Read on to learn about Shea's passion for craft beer.
Work For Your Beer (WFYB): When (and how) did your craft beer journey begin?
Lashea Johnson (LJ): My craft beer journey began in Seattle, Washington circa 2015. I was spoiled by all the fresh hops and west coast IPAs out there!
WFYB: Do you remember what your "gateway beer" was? The first one you ever tried, that got you into all the rest?
LJ: Red Hook & New Belgium variety packs from the grocery store hooked me onto craft beer. Specifically Red Hook's Long Hammer IPA and New Belgium's Fat Tire.
WFYB: What’s your go-to beer style? And what’s one beer in that style that you’d recommend trying?
LJ: I tend to be a seasonal drinker, but my go-to style of beer as of lately has been Kettle Sours. I recommend trying Broken Tarted at Town Brewing company. It’s easily one of the best I’ve ever had.
WFYB: On the flip side, is there a beer style that you just can't really get into?
LJ: Imperial stouts. Pastry stouts. I can’t get behind the big booziness and alcoholic warmth of big abv barrel-aged stouts or the thickness of the body in most pastry stouts.
WFYB: Honestly, Shea, we feel you on that one. We have to be in a MOOD to sip on those big hitters. Let's shift to breweries. What would you say is your favorite brewery in Charlotte?
LJ: It’s hard to pick just one.
WFYB: What would you say is the coolest brewery that you ever visited?
LJ: Machine House in Seattle does all small-batch English-style Cask Ales and they are *chefs kiss* — plus it’s really cool to watch your beer dispensed from a beer engine.
WFYB: What’s one brewery (or beer) on your bucket list?
LJ: I really want to visit Maine Beer Company.
WFYB: What is your preferred way to Work For Your Beer?
LT: I’m a 200 RYT, so yoga is definitely my preferred method of working for my beer. I’m also known to occasionally attend Tone n Tap which is a HIIT-style full-body workout hosted at a brewery (of course).
WFYB: We love Tone n Tap! So glad you are able to enjoy that workout. Let's get a little more serious for our next question. Since you’ve been a part of the craft beer community, how have you seen it change (for better or for worse)?
LT: Thankfully, I’ve witnessed a shift in the craft beer community towards inclusion, diversity, and putting an end to sexual harassment/assault, which is unfortunately prominent in the industry. Thanks to the hard work and bravery of certain breweries, industry members, and influencers, some actual measures have been taken to implement protocols that protect women and POCs in this industry and I am grateful for it.
WFYB: What advice would you give to someone considering getting involved in the craft beer community?
LT: Expect hard work, wear PPE, and there is always so much to learn about craft beer despite how much you may already know.
Thank you to Shea 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 other members of the craft beer community!
Want to be considered for an upcoming feature? Email cheers@workforyourbeer.com to set up an interview!