Life & Work with Barb Baker

Today we’d like to introduce you to Barb Baker.

Hi Barb, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstories with our readers?
Hi! I’m Barb Baker…a tv host, commercial actor, championship Oakland University track and field coach, championship Ohio University athlete, homebrewer, world-traveling beer seeker, 1st Level Cicerone, President of Fermenta, Wine Brand Owner, and most importantly the Siren of Stout.

I started in craft beer and wine over 20 years ago. Starting with my very first taste in college…to my first experience at an Irish pub “trying” an Irish stout…to my first time at a Michigan brewery drinking a stout…which became part of my moniker (the Siren of Stout) because it was so delicious.

I noticed, when I went to beer events, beer bars, beer festivals, or breweries, I was often the only woman there and always the only person of color there. It never made me feel truly uncomfortable because I was taught by my mother at an early age “Wherever you go, you belong” but it did make a lot of my colleagues and friends of color in beer very wary and I took notice.

My entire existence in beer has been to open doors, eyes, and palates to the craft beer industry and I want everyone to feel as welcome as I did coming in. Part of doing that is being present. When there are beer judging competitions, brewery openings and beer events…I am there to represent women and women of color. In this day and age, when I walk in the door, to any beer event, I should not see a look of surprise from attendees…but I still do, which tells me there is much work to be done.

When I first started getting serious about craft beer and education, I started looking for a tribe and after a few years came upon Fermenta; A Women’s Craft Collective meeting. I was welcomed with open arms. There were women who only drank beer but also beer educators, sales reps, and brewers and they were supportive of whatever you wanted to do in the fermentation industry such as kombucha, liquor, mead, Keifer, yogurt, and cheese. I loved this because I was heavy into homebrewing but also making my own Keifer, kombucha, yogurt, and sauerkraut for my family’s health. I was asked to create the newsletter for the newly formed 501C3 and was thrilled. In 2021 I was asked to step in as the Vice President and in 2022 was voted in as President. Our mission is the same as it ever was…to be a community of women who enjoy teaching and supporting other women about their craft. I want to increase the membership of women of color and corporate sponsorship. We have given away almost $26,000 in our short 7 years as a non-profit and that is phenomenal. I want ALL women to be able to take part in that.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have had two beautiful callings placed on my heart…one being in entertainment (tv host and commercial actor) and the other in craft beer. Although both are tough fields to navigate because both are filled with nepotism, stereotypes, prejudice, and subjectivity…tv hosting has been more challenging. It could be because entertainment is a very old, very saturated industry and craft beer is seemly “new”.

It has actually been a fairly smooth journey in Craft beer but I know for a fact it has not been that way for most people of color or women. I happened to be very lucky and I recognize and embrace that and that is why my platform is to help all people feel they are welcomed and valued in the craft beer space. There is enough for everyone and there is room for everyone.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the Siren of Stout and it is my mission to bring marginalized people into all facets of the craft beer and fermentation industries. I not only represent by being present in areas/events where a Black woman would be seldom seen but also by doing beer collaborations with well-known breweries (I’ve done 5) and by starting my own wine brand. We all know the craft beer industry (and wine) is a very white, very male industry that prefers to stay that way and I am working to change the narrative of who you see behind a beer. There are so many jobs in beer and not just brewer, sales rep, or front of house host and with these jobs, comes money. There is a lot of money in the beer industry. Mainly because it has been dominated by white guys. Through my personal business www.SirenofStout.com and my professional non-profit organization www.Fermentamichigsn.org, I actively connect marginalized people with connections, jobs, and scholarship money to further whatever passions they have in the fermentation industry. I am very proud that I have built up friendships in this industry with phenomenal people who also are on this same path of inclusion and belonging and they do it as a rule, not as a trend. What sets me apart is my time in the industry and my continued passion for education and equity.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank or give credit to?
No one does anything alone. I have had a ton of people help propel me to where I’m at…even ones that were welcoming but were nameless. From the first frat guy in college to invite me to a party and introduce me to Heineken to the people who started as mentors and are now friends…like Annette May who was the first woman Cicerone in the world to Harry Weaver from The Brews Brothas, a DEI and Craft beer and Bourbon powerhouse. You need allies and people who continually support your efforts help. Support is nothing without action.