Lineup Brewing owner and head brewer Katarina Martinez has been called the Beyoncé of beer, and, in December 2017, she had her own brush with Queen Bey. Her German-style pilsner, Biëryoncé, made headlines, earning a spot on Late Night with Seth Meyers and a cease-and-desist letter from Beyoncé herself. (The beer has since been renamed: Kätariná.)
Martinez is used to making headlines: As the first NYC woman to start a brewing company solo, she’s garnered attention for her pioneering position as well as her easy-drinking ales and lagers.
She was recently recognized among Brooklyn Daily’s Women of Distinction for her community work, including hosting female-centric bottle shares and connecting with Latino-owned businesses.
Originally from Castle Rock, Colo., Martinez replanted her roots in New York to continue her tech career. But beer-making was never far from her thoughts, and she eventually heeded the calls of her hobby back home.
After launching Lineup in 2015, she temporarily shared a taproom space in Industry City. Now she’s one of Brooklyn’s many successful contract brewers and collaborators.
We caught up with Martinez to hear more about the brews that inspire her and get her through her busy days. Turns out, it’s one very specific Belgian Wit.
1. What’s your desert-island beer?
Blanche de Bruxelles. Preferably out of the keg. I have a tap system on this desert island, right?
2. What’s the beer that made you fall in love with beer?
[Laughs] Blanche de Bruxelles. Two-dollar happy-hour pours at a Belgian beer bar and restaurant in Boulder called Reuben’s.
3. FMK three beer types: IPA, pilsner, sour?
Fuck a good sour: So rare to find a stable and delicious one. Always breaks your heart. Marry a pilsner: A classic romance for me. Takes extra time and work as a brewer, but is worth it in the end. Kill the IPA: They’re murdering our palates. Too many. Too much.
4. You’re on death row. What’s your last supper beer?
This is hard. 3 Fonteinen Framboos. With a delicious steak and all of the fixins.
5. You can only drink one beer for the rest of your life. What is it?
I never want to drink one beer for the rest of my life [laughs]. But… Blanche de Bruxelles on tap.
6. What’s the best and worst beer in your fridge right now?
Worst: I have a two-year-old 4-pack of Guinness in there.
Best: I have some amazing Black Project [of Denver, Colo.] bottles in there.
7. If you could no longer drink beer, what would be your beverage of choice?
Alcoholic? Red wine — Marietta Cellars out of Geyserville, Calif. Non-alcoholic? Sprite.
