Women of Beer: Cari Caramonta of Gnarly Barley Brewing

Cari Caramonta 

Gnarly Barley Brewing - Hammond, LA
 
By Kerri Allen
 
Headed to Louisiana any time soon? Nestled between New Orleans and Baton Rouge lies Hammond, the quaint home of Gnarly Barley Brewing Company, owned by the husband and wife team of Zac and Cari Caramonta. Cari holds the titles of co-founder, vice president and marketing director for the brewery. She's also a member of the Mystic Krew of Brew homebrewers club in Covington and a Cicerone-certified beer server.
 
A Crafty Background
 
Since she was a little girl, Cari gravitated toward crafty pursuits in many forms. Before she developed a taste for craft beer, Cari constructed objects to suit her personality. Whether this involved customizing her wardrobe, furniture, or visual displays at her previous job as a fashion merchandiser, Cari nurtures the same DIY mindset as her husband, Zac. Brewing seemed a natural fit, and she assists Zac with recipes, brewing, marketing and her favorite part - tasting. 
 
How did Gnarly Barley land in Hammond? Cari and Zac met at the town's Southeastern Louisiana University in 2005. While falling in love with each other, they also fell for the charm of Hammond. Cari notes, “The community is so welcoming and helpful. There wasn’t a brewery here, and what college town doesn’t need a brewery? The downtown area is quaint, lovely and vibrant.” 
 
Community Connections
 
Zac started brewing after he married Cari in 2009. Cari reflects, “He was instantly hooked. I would assist on brew days, and when Zac eventually told me that he was put on earth to brew beer, I knew he had to follow his dream, and I wanted to help cultivate this. In 2014, we realized our vision in the form of a 14,000-square-foot craft beer facility in Hammond.
 
Cari brought her background in Family & Consumer Sciences, merchandising and marketing to the table. She instantly knew that she would be an essential part of making Gnarly Barley successful. "Building a business together as a couple can be challenging," Cari says. “But we always enjoyed crafting together, and this brewing craft was one we knew we’d peruse as our livelihood. So, we both worked towards this goal starting in 2011. We attended homebrew festivals and built a system at the house so we could produce better beer. We spent 2011 to 2014 researching, securing funding, finding a space and designing and installing our brew system and fermentation tanks. We sold our first batch of beer to our distributor on May 5, 2014, and opened our taproom doors to the public a week later.” 
 
In an industry that seems to be in constant flux, Cari loves how the craft beer business remains exciting and changing. "No one day is the same as another," Cari declares. "There will always be new recipes, beer names, taproom events, merchandise, collaborations, marketing, etc. It’s ever-evolving fun!”
 
Customers Seem Like Family
 
Cari's welcoming demeanor, positive attitude, and love of the industry seem apparent to patrons visiting the Gnarly Barley taproom, but obstacles exist in an ever-moving industry. Cari notes that the biggest challenge she has faced is the feeling of constantly having to “one-up” herself in the continuously changing landscape of craft beer.  Hard work pays off, and Cari observes, “My greatest reward is the genuine gratitude that we receive from our customers. It’s amazing when you create something people truly care about and love.”
 
Folks in the beer world often refer to the people in it as a beer family and a community. This can prove especially rewarding when a family business becomes an integral part of a community. Cari says, “Over the past decade, we've been fortunate to share countless memorable experiences with our customers. It’s a true honor to receive recognition for what we do. Our commitment to the community shines through in our support for charities, our hosting of events, and our partnerships with local businesses and the university. These connections have blossomed into close friendships, making our brewery feel like one big, happy family. We've created a welcoming space where everyone can feel at ease and truly be themselves.” 
 
Cari believes that women and minorities form a vital part of the craft beer industry, “In order to create a well-rounded brand, you need all points of view, not only with product creation but with marketing and branding as well,” she notes. “One-third of our Gnarly Barley staff is female. Our work environment is very welcoming and inclusive, and I believe maintaining this environment here and at other breweries will only attract more women and minorities.”
 
Which Beer to Choose?
 
Gnarly Barley offers a wide array of delicious beers. Cari comments, "My original Gnarly Barley obsession began with Korova Milk Porter because of its rich roasty notes of chocolate and coffee. While this beer still holds a special place for me, my taste buds soon gravitated toward hoppier brews. Jucifer, our juicy/hazy IPA, is now one of my favorites.” She waxes poetic, “Its vibrant blend of hoppy citrus and tropical flavors make it irresistible.” 
 
When a brewery creates many extraordinary beers, choosing a favorite can be fun yet difficult.  Cari relates, “Lately, I've been enjoying our sours, like Haus Marg Lime Gose, and our crisp lagers, like Skater Aid. At the end of the day, it all comes down to what I'm doing, what I'm eating, and what I'm in the mood for. Every beer has its time and place.”
 
Many Louisiana residents view Gnarly Barley as one of the top craft beer destinations in the state. Gnarly Barley received a 2017 Louisiana Lantern Award for demonstrating excellence in manufacturing and outstanding service to the community. The Brewers Association named Gnarly Barley among the top 50 fastest-growing craft breweries in 2017 and 2018. Beer fans planning a trip to The Big Easy should plan a side excursion to the other side of Lake Ponchartrain to check out Gnarly Barley, say hello to Cari and Zac, and sample a few outstanding house brews. 
 

- Images Courtesy of Gnarly Barley -