‘Handcrafted Careers’ takes on beer crafting industry

A new book titled 'Handcrafted Careers' explores the everyday lives of workers in the craft beer industry, asking questions Americans wonder about, like what makes a good career?

The author is Eli Wilson, a University of New Mexico associate professor of Sociology, who has focused his research on how work, race, and culture intersect in the new economy. He lives and makes a home in both Albuquerque, New Mexico and Ojai, California.

Wilson says he was inspired to write the book from his interest in careers that are nontraditional, like beer crafters. Oftentimes beer crafters are left to brew their own story as there isn't really a blueprint on how to do the job the right way. There also is disagreement in the industry about what can be considered authentic since it's a job that isn't restricted by a ton of rules about how to craft beer the 'right way.'

"I've always been fascinated by types of work that seem to inspire utter devotion or complete absorption from the people who do them," saidWilson during an interview by the University of California Press. "Jobs that are about so much more than labor tasks and paychecks."

Albuquerque is no stranger to the beer crafting scene. College students, friends, and family have long enjoyed local crafters like Bow & Arrow Brewery and the Brewery District. It's a career path that few consider and many enjoy on the street corners of the city. When places like central and downtown glow after hours, fresh beer is served to guests bubbling with excitement. Wilson says a huge reason he wrote the book is because of the passion and uncertainty many feel in the business.

"I met workers in the industry who were grappling with unspoken assumptions about who belonged in craft beer," said Wilson. "They're trying to figure out what is considered expertise - what's respected by colleagues as they're operating without a script. The utter messiness of this work-the hands-on methodology and my own experience in crafting inspired me to write this book."

The book cover is a classic amber yellow, and to no surprises, features the silhouette of three fermentation tanks. This compliments the book's humble beginnings from atop a barstool. Wilson wrote about a non-traditional job with a not-so-traditional style, as a pint of beer was almost always next to his laptop. Lagers, ale, and stout beers helped him craft his book. Being able to taste authentic and fresh handcrafted brews helped Wilson define the success of handcrafting beer.

"Writing this book was a truly immersive experience. I was constantly writing in breweries, often with a pint of craft beer next to my computer" Wilson said. "I learned to go with the flow. Stories about working in craft beer would eventually make their way onto the page while new ones were being made right there!"

However, crafting interesting brews in a tough economy is not the only concern for people in the beer industry. Local artists who are not the stereotypical 'white man with a beard' struggle to pull in customers because they're different.

"In a setting dominated by bearded white guys, standing out from the crowd can be a source of edginess and authenticity. But it can also mean getting left out of key networks, making job advancement that much harder" Wilson said about the other challenges beer crafters face in their work.

Individuals can purchase his book online as an e-book or a hardcover on the University of California Press website.