Salina “Sal” Copeland is the Packaging Manager here at Three Taverns and joined 3T in 2017. Her responsibilities include overseeing packaging, hiring staff, and working alongside Sales and Production to help manage inventory for over 10,000 barrels of beer/year. Read more about her below in our “Behind The 3” feature, where we highlight the instrumental folks of Three Taverns:
Where did you grow up and what brought you to Georgia?
I was born in Omaha, Nebraska. But I mostly grew up in Alabama. After college I lived in Florida for a few years. I love Florida and miss living at the beach but I decided it was time to “grow up” and go to grad school. So I packed up, bought a house, and moved to Athens, GA. Never went to grad school (lol) but fell in love with breweries instead.
What keeps you busy outside of work?
Pre-covid, I played roller derby as my primary hobby. I was starting my 8th season as a skater right before the pandemic.
Since the world shut down I’m way less cool and mainly just hang out with my dogs. I bought a house during the pandemic and built a deck over the winter so we’re currently doing a lot of porch sittin’.
Favorite 3T beer? What other beers/non-beers do you drink often?
PRINCE OF PILSEN ALL DAY!! If I’m buying beer Miller High Life is my go-to but usually I’m drinking wine, bourbon, gin, and/or tequila on my off-time or mad crushing some La Croixs. Kona Big Wave is my old school fave “craft” beer. It brings me back to my younger days when I lived at the beach.
Has the beer industry changed since you first started working in it? If so, how? What changes do you hope to see in the future?
Sure, it has changed. For starters, you don't need to be an intern or know somebody to get started in the industry. My first brewery gig was an unpaid internship that I (probably) only got because the head brewer was a derby mate of mine. At that time, I applied to every brewery job opening I saw in my area and got nothing until I could finally find a "free" spot to gain some experience. Don't get me wrong, I loved my intro into the industry. It showed me what the work actually involved without having to commit to a career change but it was still a challenging process just to find opportunity.
What I've always loved about beer is that it brings people together. I have seen that reflected in the industry as well. We are here, together, as something bigger than beer. We are here for people. I saw it when countries were devastated by natural disasters and breweries started canning water to send as an aid. We have seen it most, I feel, within the last year+. Most of the industry banned together to support social issues involving inclusivity. I love to see when it's not just about making beer and it becomes about lifting up people and community; to bring us all back together.
As far as changes I hope to see, I am echoing the voice of others that yearns for more diversity. As a hiring manager in the industry, I know how few of those resumes I get. I want to see a wholeness in the industry. I hope that, as an industry, we can repair the perception so that it becomes a familiar and exciting place to work for everyone.
What’s an underrated beer style you’d like to see more representation of?
Cream ale. Hands down. So light, crisp, and ultra refreshing and yet so flavorful! If I'm ever at a brewery or bar and I see a cream ale on tap, I'm trying it!
Favorite spots to hang out in and around Atlanta?
I keep it cozy in Decatur, where it's greater!!! For real though, if I'm out I'm usually found in Oakhurst, either at the dog park or Scout, Stienbeck's, or Sceptre Brewing. I like heading over to the West End on occasion, but I usually keep my travel triangle from Decatur to Grant Park over to Little 5 and back…basically anywhere I can get to without having to deal with too much traffic.
Most memorable beer experience?
Ordering my own beer at a bar! I’m not a brewer but we have a program here that allows any member of our staff to brew a recipe of their creation. So I, with the help of the ladies of 3T and Rebecca Royster (founder of D+D Beer Fest), brewed a beer for the Dames + Dregs festival. Usually our pilot beers never make it out of The Parlour but this one was for a festival, so cool, right!? Then it got picked up by other places who were doing D+D promos around town. Like the total nerd that I am, I promptly scooted to Little 5 to order my own beer. :)
Desert island beer and food?
How hot is this island? If I'm on an island, don't give me beer, give me tequila, lime, and salt please. And crab legs with some seaweed salad and I'm set.
Now that the pandemic appears to be more in the rearview, what excites you most about things returning to normal?
TRAVEL!!! I need some beach in my life ASAP!
Best and worst thing about working for a brewery?
Best thing - FREE BEER and camaraderie.
Worst thing - wrapping pallets of finished packaged beer. I don't care how long you've been doing it, wrapping a pallet still leaves you dizzy and out of breath. It never gets easier!
