Beer making is a science, and Becky Hammond studied science in college.

Her specialty was marine biology. Her minor was entrepreneurship. Her passion was, and is, beer.

After an illness that left her unable to scuba dive, she pointed her self in the direction of the brewing industry, and since then has left her mark on some of the most significant players in the growth of the Middle Tennessee and Southeastern craft beer culture.

Hammond, the daughter of L. Daniel Hammond, chairman and CEO of American Hometown Media in Nashville, started in the industry washing out kegs at Jackalope, a women-owned Nashville brewery. While on a relatively low rung on the brewing ladder, she paid attention to what was going on, and learned.

From there she went to Craftworks, parent company of Rock Bottom Restaurant and Breweries, becoming an assistant brewer at Big River Grill and Brewery in Chattanooga, then an assistant brewer at Rock Bottom Restaurant and Brewery on Lower Broadway in Nashville. While she was there, she was part of a full scale brewery remodel, and the addition of the rooftop bar. The company then made her head brewer at a Rock Bottom in Short Pump, Virginia, and she oversaw the full-scale build-out of that restaurant and brewery.

When the chance to assist in the launch of another brewery closer to home, she left Craftworks and relocated back to Nashville to become Director of Brewing/BrewMaster of Mill Creek Brewing Company in Nolensville. She helped oversee installation of the production brewery equipment in a large warehouse in Johnson Industrial Park.

She also worked with Mill Creek owner Chris Going to tweak his home-brew recipes to be able to produce them on gross scale and volume. Mill Creek brands Lil Darlin, Woodshed IPA, and Landmark Lager found success on the local craft beer market, and Mill Creek grew to establish a second taproom in the 12South district of Nashville.

She was recently recruited away from Mill Creek Brewery by Square One Holdings of Chattanooga, a company formed by formed by Allen Corey, who had been founder and CEO of Craftworks Breweries, the largest craft brewer in the country and her former employer at the Rock Bottom breweries.

“Basically of all the breweries, I have been holistically involved  in everything from brewing, cellaring, packaging to raw materials, laboratory techniques and implementation, inventory/accounting, distributor relationships/sales, etc.,” Hammond said. “I have also instructed and trained folks over the years in the brewery setting.”

Square One owns and operates restaurants and breweries throughout the Southeast, and Hammond’s latest gig is to help oversee operations and focus on quality control at Carolina Breweries in Pittsboro, North Carolina, and several sister properties.

Carolina Brewery took home its fourth national medal at the prestigious Great American Beer Festival in Denver in September, as its Copperline Amber Ale won silver in the Ordinary and Special Bitter category.

“Carolina Brewery has been a staple of the research triangle in North Carolina for over 20 years,” Hammond said. “We have put significant investment into the brewery as far as laboratory equipment, so as to continue being on the forefront of quality craft beer.”

Working under Brewmaster Nate Williams, Hammond will oversee quality control as Carolina Brewery renews its
commitment to, and increases investment in, canning and Carolinas-wide distribution.

It is a big job.