We are so fortunate to meet a variety of fitness instructors who are actively teaching at breweries across the country.

This week, we are getting to know Hannah Letts (@lettslivewell), founder of Tone & Tap (@toneandtap) in Charlotte, NC.

Work For Your Beer: So, Hannah. Let’s learn a little bit about how your craft beer journey began.

Hannah Letts: While I had developed an interest and admiration for craft beer several years prior, my real craft beer journey began in September of 2018 when I was given the opportunity to beertend at Town Brewing Company. (Psst, I still do, so come say hi!) There, I was able to meet so many awesome people in the beer community and develop more knowledge and appreciation for craft beer and the community breweries bring!

WFYB: Do you remember what your “gateway beer” was? The first one you ever tried, that got you into all the rest?

HL: The first craft beer I remember having is Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA. However, I grew up very close to Three Floyds Brewery in Munster, IN, and that was my first brewery experience!

WFYB: So would you say that IPAs are your go-to beer style, then? 

HL: There are not many times that I couldn’t go for a nice West Coast IPA. Call me biased, but Escape Plan from Town Brewing Company is the best around.

WFYB: On the flip side, is there a beer style that you just can’t really get into? 

HL: Sours! I can enjoy a nice 12 oz pour of one that’s not SUPER sour, but I don’t trust those of you who drink sour after sour. (WFYB Co-Founder, Mel, is crying over here.)

WFYB: Let’s talk about breweries. What would you say is your favorite brewery in Charlotte?

HL: Top 3 (in no order because there are too many for just one): The Suffolk Punch, Protagonist, and Wooden Robot. (Aside from Town, obvi.)

WFYB: What would you say is the coolest brewery that you ever visited? 

HL: Sierra Nevada, because it is literally beer heaven.

WFYB: What’s one brewery (or beer) on your bucket list?

HL: Petty Thieves! (A newer brewery in Charlotte, NC.)

WFYB: If someone asked you to do a beer share today, what would be the beers you’d put in your mixed pack to share with them?

HL:

1. Escape Plan IPA – Town Brewing
2. Wake up Porter – Birdsong Brewery
3. Wake -n- Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout – Terrapin Beer Co.
4. Rise of the Angels DIPA – 18th Street Brewery
5. Emotional Support Badger ESB – Town Brewing
6. Mamas Little Yella Pils – Oskar Blues

WFYB: What is your preferred way to Work For Your Beer? 

HL: Truly will participate in any activity to earn a beer, but if I had to choose it would be a run or a bootcamp!

WFYB: So, you run a class at breweries called Tone & Tap. How did it start? And how many breweries are you hosting at now?

HL: I had attended yoga classes at breweries and knew about run clubs, but there seemed to be a lack of bootcamp workouts. So, when I began working at Town as a bartender, I asked about hosting classes and soon got the ball rolling! We are now at four locations:

1. Protagonist — South End (Mondays at 6 PM)
2. Town Brewing (Tuesdays at 6:30 PM)
3. Devil’s Logic (starting in February, Wednesdays at 6 PM)
4. Summit Seltzer (Thursdays at 6:30 PM)

WFYB: What advice would you give to someone considering trying a beer fitness class?

HL: If you are considering it, try it! If not for the workout, for the beer, and for the community. My favorite part about beer fitness classes is the friends and connections that are made by bonding over the best two common interests ever: fitness & beer!

Speaking for Tone & Tap, we truly have such a diverse group and varying fitness levels. Classes aren’t made to put pressure on you to be super in shape, but just to have fun and move!

WFYB: Why do you love the Work For Your Beer mantra?

HL: I love it because balance is EVERYTHING! Life is too short to not enjoy a refreshing craft beer after a workout here and there, especially in Charlotte with the endless choices of craft beer! Also because, at most times, you will either find me with either a dumbbell or beer in my hand. 

Thank you to Hannah 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 beer fitness community!

Want to get a taste of a Tone & Tap workout? Check out some brewery workouts with Hannah on our YouTube channel.

Want to be considered for an upcoming feature Email cheers@workforyourbeer.com to set up an interview!