FORT WORTH, Texas — Sandra Murphy’s journey into brewing has a pretty standard start.
“My husband decided he wanted to home brew, and I was, like ‘uh, OK cool, great’,” she said. “I had an idea for a beer, and he was like, ‘That’s crazy. If you want to do that, you have to do that on your own.'”
She jokes her first batch got mixed reviews, but she was hooked.
“Oh yeah, I dove all the way in,” she said. “Just completely nerded out on it.”
It wasn’t until 2018 that she decided to pursue her passion after she lost her 10-year-old daughter in a car crash.
“I just decided then that I was not going to let any opportunity pass me by, because you don’t ever know how long you have,” she said.
This week, Murphy made history when she was promoted to head brewer at Panther Island Brewing, making her the first head brewer in the entire DFW metroplex.
“I learned pretty quickly that she could make a phenomenal beer and was way more knowledgeable than I am,” said Panther Island Owner Ryan McWhorter.
Murphy started as a volunteer making test batches for five months before being promoted to assistant brewer, brewer and now her new title.
McWhorter said her talent is turning his wild ideas like a Buc-ee's Beaver Nugget beer, called "Road Trip Snacks” into reality.
“She can actually put those into action and say, ‘that’s great, but here’s how we’re going to have to do it’,” McWhorter said. “I think the knowledge behind the science is what I’ve always lacked and so what I’ve lacked she’s definitely picked up.”
Neither of them knew she was the first female head brewer in DFW until an organization for women in the beer industry called Pink Boots Society told her.
“I’m still like, ‘pinch me’ a little bit,” she said. “For me, it’s so much more than a job. This is my sanctuary. This is my peace.”
A recent survey found more than 90% of beer production is done by men. Murphy hopes women see her as proof anyone can do it.
“When other people see themselves represented in the field, then they feel that’s something they can do too,” she said. “If you want to be a part of the beer industry, you can do it. Just take that leap of faith.”
Murphy said her daughter is still part of every batch she brews. She may have had a typical start into brewing, but her motivation and success are all her own.
“When I can’t lift something or something is frustrating me, I call on her for a little bit of extra strength,” Murphy said. “When I lost her, I said I would spend everyday of my life making her proud, and so I finally feel like I’ve done that.”