We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kramer Deans. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kramer below.
Kramer, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time that your work has been misunderstood? Why do you think it happened and did any interesting insights emerge from the experience?
Yes, I do feel like my work as a craft beer influencer can and is mischaracterized from people thinking I just drink beer all day to Black people thinking drinking craft beer is only for white people. I remember taking my mother to the brewery I worked at where she didn’t realize you can sit and relax and have some food at the brewery while sipping your favorite brew. I learned that there is so much work to do to educate the Black community about craft beer and there isn’t a lot of resources readily available for my community from beer being available in the predominantly Black areas of town to understanding the true history of beer. I realized how I could be that resource and use my voice to make the impact I want in my community, the Black community.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
My real name is Kramer but you can call me The Beerded Brotha! I grew up in Decatur, Ga, Zone 6 stand up! I moved to Nashville to attend college where I unknowingly found my purpose, craft beer. My roommate Junior year introduced me to craft beer via Shocktop Belgian Blonde and from there I took off! I tried everything from Green Flash IPA where I thought my tongue was about to fall off to the silky smooth stout of Trimtab’s Language of Thunder! I always wanted to know the science aka the “how” to making high quality beer! The best thing I could think of was to work in a brewery and learn for myself!
How did you build your audience on social media?
I built my audience through one pint at a time! I like to tell people my mission is to talk to Black people about beer through conversation and education. What I mean by that is you can still teach people while still getting to know them or reconnecting with them. Instead of trying to sit them down and drown their minds with information they may not even be interested in. I like to work in the education through the conversation we are having. For example , if we are at a brewery and my friend is not sure what to get then I will ask them what drinks they like or flavors they like and go from there. That way they can converse but also learn that there might be a beer equivalent to the things they like. I try to do this with my social media posts where I will say what is in the beer but I will pair it with a food they like so when they have that food later they will think about that post and maybe try it!
My biggest piece of advice would be to find the connection and get people interested in what you do in a genuine way. The impact is more profound and might have created a new fan!
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
Being able to create something that people connect and learn from! When people tell me that they found a beer they actually like from one of my recommendations it fills my heart with joy. You could just ignore it but you gave my creative mind and opinion a chance and it gave a positive result. Art is something you do that is bigger than you. It can move a generation forward and can start conversations about whatever you want. The best part is, you created that opportunity. There is not a better feeling than that!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.thebeerdedbrotha.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebeerdedbrotha/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheBeerdBro
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2Q2MJycN90x5zuHBlqyyWw