My Journey to Hankscraft AJS

By Luke Robb, Product Designer

I want to start this post off by introducing myself. My name is Luke Robb, and I am the most recent addition to the Hankscraft AJS team as their newest product designer. I am 22 years old, born and raised in Austin, Texas, and recently graduated from Auburn University with my Bachelor’s of Industrial Design in May. With that out of the way, you may be wondering a few things. How did this guy find this job? What made him move across the country? How is everything going so far? Now that I have been working for Hankscraft AJS for two weeks and have been living in Wisconsin for three, I have some time to reflect and think about my journey getting to where I am now. If my introduction has piqued your interest so far, then sit back and enjoy the story of how I became the newest addition to the Hankscraft AJS team.

Let me set the scene for you. I have just started my final semester of college at Auburn. The only application that I had done to that point was for an internship and I knew that if I didn’t start job applications soon, I would be behind the game. What I didn’t know at the time (but quickly found out) was that this is one of the worst times to be applying for design jobs in the job market, lucky me! As a student with no full-time work experience, I knew it was going to be hard to land an interview let alone a job, but I had no clue the work that was cut out for me. I updated my portfolio, polished up my resume, and took to LinkedIn. I was so brutally naive.

The months passed in a blink of an eye, and before I knew it, it was April and I was a month from graduating college with nothing on the line. My final semester taught me more than I ever expected to learn about life and the harsh reality of job hunting. After about 50-60 lines of red text reading “Rejected” in my spreadsheet, I got so sick of seeing all the jobs that I didn’t get that I gave up on keeping track. I was lucky to even have received those rejections though, more often than not a response wouldn’t even find its way back to me. At the start of my applications, I was particular, only applying for jobs that I could see myself doing, and by April I was sending in applications left and right, desperate to find a company that would even give me a chance to interview and get beyond the resume and portfolio.

One fateful Thursday, I walked into my professional practice class to see that we were having a guest speaker, Brad Lugar, a former Auburn industrial design graduate, and the CEO of Steel City Tap Co., a beer tap handle company out of Birmingham Alabama. I sat down not knowing what to expect and within 5 minutes of the virtual tour I was blown away and fascinated. I asked tons of questions and when the tour came to a brief lull I asked Brad point blank: “What you guys do is super cool and I would love to be a part of it. Are you hiring?” Much to my disappointment, he said that he was not hiring any designers at the time (their loss!). Before that day I had no clue that designing beer tap handles was even a possibility, but after that meeting and countless hours searching for a job that I thought I could be passionate about, I knew that designing beer tap handles was right up my alley.

The following Monday morning I got a call from my Dad and he told me about his friend who was able to find a job through Indeed pretty easily. Now I had been on Indeed for months and I hadn’t seen as many opportunities for designers compared to other job posting platforms, but later that morning in class I decided to get my laptop out and search for more jobs to apply to anyways. I sent in a few random applications and then stumbled on a posting that read in all caps “BEER TAP HANDLE PRODUCT DESIGNER.” It was like the stars had aligned, 3 days after learning that designing beer tap handles was even a possibility in my profession and now I find an open position that I met all the qualifications for, what are the odds? Then one glaring fact stood out to me a few lines down that read “Random Lake, WI.” I didn’t know where that was, in fact I didn’t know a single thing about Wisconsin, let alone a small town named Random Lake. Even so I submitted my portfolio and resume, not expecting much just like all of my other applications. Imagine my surprise to find a message back from the Art Director, Cole Krueger, asking to set up an interview with me less than an hour after submitting an application. I was ecstatic and terrified at the same time, but knew that I had to prove myself and put my best foot forward as I always have tried to do.

The first interview went great, so great in fact that Cole told me I was practically guaranteed to make it to the second round of interviews. I didn’t even know what to feel. For the first time in months I felt like the hard work that I had been doing was beginning to pay off, but I also knew that it was not the time to get comfortable. Some time later I received an email from Cole with information about the second interview as well as a design challenge that was to be completed as part of the application for one of the clients that he had worked with in the past. It was time to buckle up and get to work.

With the time I was given, I contacted the brewery, set up an interview with the brew master, and learned his amazing story about how he and his family built their brewery from the ground up and how he is happy doing what he has always wanted to do (huge shoutout to Jarrett Mack at Hoya Hop House for taking the time to interview with me). With a new wealth of knowledge learned in the interview, I was able to design and present three tap handle designs to Cole and the Hankscraft AJS President, Eric Gruener. My friends can all testify that after the second round of interviews, I was a nervous wreck full of anticipation. I put my everything into creating these to the best of my abilities and all that was left to do was wait.

I was woken up by a phone call from a Wisconsin number one Thursday around 7:45 in the morning which I groggily answered, trying my best to sound awake and alert. It was a call from Cole telling me that I had gotten the job. I didn’t even know what to do, I was stunned. I called everyone that I could including parents and friends to tell them all the fantastic news. Little did I know that this was just the first hurdle of many which were now rapidly approaching.

On May 10th I walked across the stage, received my degree, and was officially named an alumni of Auburn University. That was and always will be one of the highlights of my career and life, and a moment that I will be eternally proud of myself for. I took some time after graduation to go on a guys trip with some friends and after coming back it was all hands on deck for the next steps I needed to take. I had a job lined up in a state that I had never visited and had no clue the challenges that awaited me. I flew to Milwaukee (which was my first time ever in Wisconsin) with my Dad a few days after getting back from our guys trip, where we spent the weekend apartment hunting, which led me to sign a lease. We flew back and right away I got to selling my things and packing the rest to try and fit into my Mini Cooper for the long trek across the country that was to come.

After help from my roommate, we were able to take my belongings from my apartment in Auburn to my parents house in Birmingham, and from there, my stepmom and stepsister helped me make my long haul across the country. A long weekend of driving later, lots of heavy lifting, and more money spent on furniture and basic necessities than I definitely should have, and I was officially moved into my own apartment. I started work a week after moving and have been learning and growing in the short time that I have been here.

Looking back on the whole experience, it was an absolute whirlwind and still is, yet I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The life adjustment has definitely been hard. I have lived in the south my whole life, I have never lived by myself or even had a full time job, and really have no clue what I am doing in life, but I am happy and proud to be doing it nonetheless. Yes I miss my family, friends, home and just about everything about the way that life used to be, but that’s the thing about the past that I have realized more than anything these past few weeks. No matter how much you want to go back and relive those moments, you can’t, which yes, sucks, but also holds something beautiful about it and makes you appreciate those moments all the more. The only thing that you can do is keep looking and moving forward because that's all there is to do. 

To wrap up the story of my journey to Hankscraft AJS, there are some special people I would like to thank. I want to first and foremost say thank you to my parents and family for helping me to develop into who I am today and pushing me no matter what. I want to say thank you to my best friends for always loving me and caring for me no matter what. I want to say thank you to my professors and peers who always pushed and challenged me and taught me how to hone my craft and skills. Lastly, I want to say thank you to Cole Krueger and Eric Gruener as well as the whole Hankscraft AJS team for accepting me with open arms and making this workplace an inviting and fun environment to work in. I am truly excited to see what my future holds in Wisconsin and at Hankscraft AJS and I am so grateful for the opportunity to be here and to be a part of the great work that we are doing here. More posts to come soon, but for now, thanks for reading.

Cheers! 

-Luke Robb

The History of Green Beer: Why We Dye Our Drinks for St. Patrick’s Day

Every year on March 17th, bars and breweries around the world serve up pints of vibrant green beer in celebration of St. Patrick’s Day. But how did this tradition start, and why do we associate green beer with this Irish holiday? While the origins of St. Patrick’s Day date back centuries, the tradition of green beer is a relatively modern phenomenon with a fascinating history.

The Birth of Green Beer

The first recorded instance of green beer dates back to 1914 in New York City. Dr. Thomas H. Curtin, a coroner and physician of Irish descent, is credited with creating the first batch. During a St. Patrick’s Day celebration at the Schnerer Club in the Bronx, Dr. Curtin added a mysterious ingredient to beer, turning it a striking shade of green. That ingredient? A laundry whitener called “wash blue,” which contained an iron-based powder. Though safe in small quantities, it wasn’t exactly the most appetizing additive!

Despite this questionable start, the idea of green beer caught on. Over the decades, bartenders and brewers refined the method, replacing hazardous chemicals with simple green food coloring. By the mid-20th century, green beer had become a staple of St. Patrick’s Day festivities in Irish-American communities and beyond.

Why Do We Still Dye Our Beer Green?

Green beer is a fun and festive way to embrace the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, particularly in the United States, where the holiday has taken on a more celebratory and less religious tone. While Ireland itself didn’t traditionally serve green beer, global influences and tourism have led some Irish pubs to adopt the practice.

For many, drinking green beer is simply a playful way to participate in the holiday’s revelry. It complements other St. Patrick’s Day traditions, such as parades, wearing green clothing, and enjoying Irish music and dance. Plus, it makes for a great social media photo!

How to Make Your Own Green Beer

If you’re looking to celebrate at home, making green beer is easy. Simply add a few drops of green food coloring to a light-colored beer (such as a lager or pilsner), stir gently, and enjoy. The lighter the beer, the more vibrant the green color will appear. For a more natural alternative, some brewers use spirulina or matcha powder for a green tint.

Cheers to Tradition and Fun!

While green beer might not be a historic Irish custom, it has firmly established itself as a beloved St. Patrick’s Day tradition, particularly in the United States. Whether you’re toasting with a pint of green beer or a classic Guinness, the spirit of the holiday remains the same: celebrating Irish heritage, unity, and good cheer.

Sláinte!

Nick's Honeymoon To The UK

I recently embarked on an unforgettable honeymoon adventure across the UK, and as a proud beer enthusiast, I couldn't resist documenting the incredible brews I encountered along the way. From the bustling streets of London to the historic charm of Edinburgh and the stunning landscapes of Inverness, each stop was a treasure trove of flavor. I explored lively pubs renowned for their atmosphere and stumbled upon hidden gems that showcased the rich diversity of local craft beers. Each pint was a delightful experience, and I can’t wait to share the highlights of this journey!

Kicking off my journey in London, I gravitated towards the lighter side of the beer spectrum. With each mile I wandered through the vibrant streets, I craved refreshment rather than anything too heavy. Ciders and pale ales quickly became my go-to choices. England boasts some exceptional ciders, and I found myself smitten with delightful sips of Pulpit Flare and the crisp, fruity notes of Cornish Orchards Golden Cider. Each pour was a perfect companion to my explorations, keeping my spirits high as I soaked in the city’s charm!

When it came to beer, I savored an IPA that stood out dramatically from what I'm accustomed to back home. I also tried Nicholson’s Pale Ale, which offered a refreshing departure from the Dales Pale Ale and Sierra Nevada brews I usually enjoy. With its subtle hop presence, Nicholson’s was the ideal companion for a night filled with engaging conversations among the local crowd. Each sip was a delightful reminder of the unique character of British ales, perfectly suited for sharing stories and laughter long into the evening!

As we journeyed north to Edinburgh, the beers naturally grew a bit darker, though I still managed to sneak in a few refreshing lagers alongside my Wee Heavies and 80 Shillings. Among my favorites were the regal Innis & Gunn Lager and the ever-popular Tennent’s—true kings of Scottish beer. When the day came to a close and the chill of the grey Scottish weather settled in, I cozied up with a Belhaven 80 Shilling and a local Wee Heavy at The Queens Arms, savoring every sip.

Once we ventured further north to Inverness, we stumbled upon the fantastic Black Isle Brewing and Cairngorm Brewery, both of which crafted exceptional beers. The highlight was definitely Cairngorm's Bothy Strong Ale—rich, flavorful, and a perfect testament to the craftsmanship of Scottish brewers. Each stop was a new adventure in flavor!

Overall, my beer journey was nothing short of extraordinary! Every pour was a delight, and I was thrilled to discover a remarkable array of styles that are rarely seen back in the States. Each tasting experience showcased the creativity and craftsmanship of British brewers, making for an unforgettable adventure filled with flavor. It’s safe to say I didn’t have a bad beer, and I’m already dreaming of my next trip to explore even more!