The Fantastic Kate!

Tour guide Kate leading downtown food tour. Kate Lloyd-Shultz -- Athens Food Tours/Terrapin Brewery Tour Guide
Athens Food Tours has been in business for going on two years. It was founded by our very own tour guide Mary Charles Howard, who for the longest time was the only gal around these parts to walk and talk a culturally rich Athenian food scene. It wasn’t until one fateful night, when she would play a hand at her own game and tour another Athens treasure: Terrapin Brewery, that she would meet the enthusiastic and knowledgeable Kate Lloyd. The rest, as they say, is history.Kate entertaining food tour group upstairs at La Dolce Vita.
Today, I sat down with Kate Lloyd-Shultz to ask her a few questions about her job, her life, and the so-called “Terrapin Experience.” What I got in return is a wonderful personality, who absolutely knows her pubs and knows her people. She smiled throughout the entire interview, and I thank her so much for wanting to tell the world (or at least us) her story. Thank you!
How long have you been an Athens tour guide?
I have been a tour guide at Terrapin Brewery for two years. I started working there when I was 21. I have been with Athens Food Tours since last summer(2011).
What would you say lead you to become a tour guide?
I consider myself a hippie on paper. I graduated with a BFA in Art with an emphasis in Drawing and a certificate with the Organic Agricultural Program. I am very interested in the anthropological side of food and society, especially beer and society. I love learning about how beer had a major impact on when, how, and where people settled down in the world.
What made you choose Terrapin?
Honestly, I was in the right place at the right time. I was the girl for the job. What’s funny is that when I first went to work, I was incredibly shy. I had to get over that in all of a few weeks!
Is this your only job?
Besides Terrapin and Athens Food Tours, I work with Copper Creek, a brewpub downtown, and I am a local artist. I’m hosting the Five Points Arts Festival this year and am very excited. I’m also working toward my Cicerone certification. It’s a fancy three-step beer tasting/serving accreditation.
What do you like most about being a tour guide?
I like all of the knowledge. I enjoy enlightening people about the science behind fun and glorious beer. I also love meeting tons of cool people. I have met so many interesting people doing these tours.
Do you have a favorite part of the Terrapin tour?
I enjoy taking the patrons back into the brewhouse, where all of the tanks are, and showing them the process behind what’s in their glass. It’s my favorite part, because Biology and Chemistry were always two of my favorite subjects in school.
Have you purchased anything from the Terrapin gift shop?
I own several of our pint glasses and two t-shirts. One is a design for Wake & Bake; a Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout. The other is a design for Rye Squared; one of our Imperial Pale Ales. I also bought Christmas presents for my whole family from Terrapin.
What are some of your more unique items for sale?
Believe it or not, we have dog collars with built in bottle openers. Those are always a hit with the tourists. They also like our credit card sized openers. They fit securely into your downtown wallet with a discreet slot to open your bottle. We also have beer soap, locally made by Verdae Skin Therapy.
Now, for the question of the hour. What is your favorite beer?
It is between the Hopsecutioner and Bell’s Two Hearted Pale Ale. I also like Wild Heaven’s Eschaton, another locally brewed beer.
Another fun question. Since you work with beer all day, do you still go out?
I do not go out too often. When I do, it’s usually on a Tuesday night when no one else is here. One of my favorite spots to hang is Trappeze. They are a locally owned restaurant and pub, with what I think has the best beer selection in Athens.
Do you have any tips or recommendations for first tourists?
I always say, come both hungry and thirsty. A tour of Terrapin, or an Athens Food Tour, will leave you more than satisfied. Another thing I advise is to come with questions. We guides know a lot of information, but sometimes we forget to include something that you may want to hear. Lastly, I say keep an open mind. Try a food or a drink that you have never had before.
Lastly, what’s the latest on Athens Food Tours and Terrapin?
Both Mary Charles and I have talked about starting an Athens Beer Tour. It will more and likely be structured like the Thirsty Tours, but will be all about beer. I’m excited to see it through.

Terrapin Brewery is open for tours Wednesday – Saturday nights. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and tours are two hours in length. They announce last call at 7:15 p.m.; taps off at 7:30 p.m. Prices are $10 a glass and you keep the glass. Please, visit Terrapin's website for more information.Interview conducted & written by Food Tour Intern, Audrey Veal.