TRIBUTE TO BARBARA GROOM

On 2026-07-28, Senator Alex Padilla (D-CA) delivered a floor speech titled "TRIBUTE TO BARBARA GROOM" in the Senate.

TRIBUTE TO BARBARA GROOM

Congressional Record, Volume 172 Issue 123 (Tuesday, July 28, 2026) [Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 123 (Tuesday, July 28, 2026)] [Senate] [Page S4294] From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [ www.gpo.gov ] TRIBUTE TO BARBARA GROOM Mr. PADILLA. Mr. President, I rise today to honor a remarkable California entrepreneur, trailblazer, and pioneering small business owner whose retirement marks the culmination of an extraordinary career but leaves behind an enduring legacy in the world of California craft brewing: Ms. Barbara Groom. After more than three decades as the owner and founder of Lost Coast Brewery--one of the most recognizable brands of beer in Humboldt County--Barbara has chosen to retire at the young age of 80 to travel the world. Known as the Beer Queen of Northern California and dubbed by at least one magazine as ``Craft beer's original female gangster,'' Barbara's story is uniquely Californian. Raised on a farm near Stockton, she grew up wanting to become a skier. So as a teenager, she went door-to-door selling Avon makeup, even though she doesn't wear makeup, to pay for lessons at a ski resort--only to discover after arriving at the slopes that she didn't actually enjoy skiing. Barbara spent the next two decades working as pharmacist, building a successful career that nevertheless left her longing for an outlet for her creative side. She tried making furniture. She even built a cabin by hand. But she still hadn't found the work she truly wanted to devote her life to. It was a fateful stop on her way home from the pharmacy one day that changed Barbara's future and finally give her the chance to unleash her creativity and entrepreneurial spirit. Seeing a sign for one of California's earliest craft breweries in the rural town of Hopland, Barbara was intrigued and decided to stop and check it out. She later recalled thinking to herself as she walked in the door, ``This is what I want to do for the rest of my life.'' She spent the next 6 years studying brewing techniques, learning the business, and preparing to take a giant leap of faith before buying a century-old former lodge in downtown Eureka, transforming it, and finally opening the doors to Lost Coast Brewery in 1990--becoming one of the Nation's first female microbrewery owners at a time when women brewers were almost unheard of in the industry. The early years were anything but easy. Building a customer base took patience, persistence, and an unwavering belief in the quality of what she was creating. Those qualities paid off. What began as a small brewpub grew into one of California's most respected independent breweries, producing award-winning beers--including favorites like Downtown Brown, Great White, and Tangerine Wheat--that are enjoyed throughout the United States and around the world. But Lost Coast Brewery became more than a successful business. Through its unmistakable labels created by Humboldt County artist Duane Flatmo, its commitment to local craftsmanship, and its deep roots in the north coast, it became an ambassador for the creativity, character, and entrepreneurial spirit that define California. Barbara never let expectations--or the fact that she was entering a male-dominated industry--dictate what she could accomplish. When others questioned whether a woman belonged in the brewing business, she simply kept building. ``I never really worried about being a woman,'' she said. ``I just did what I wanted to do.'' Her success opened doors for future generations of women entrepreneurs and helped demonstrate that innovation and leadership know no gender. Over the past three and a half decades, Barbara has created jobs, supported her community, welcomed visitors from around the world to Eureka, and helped establish California as a global leader in craft brewing. Her remarkable journey reminds us that it is never too late to pursue a new dream and that some of our greatest contributions come only after we find the courage to reinvent ourselves. California is richer for the risks she took, the business she built, and the example she set. Now, as Barbara prepares for retirement, she is looking toward new adventures--traveling to places like Iceland and Azerbaijan with cameras and drones in hand, pursuing the travel photography that has become her newest passion with the same curiosity and determination that defined her career as a brewer. On behalf of the people of California, I thank Barbara Groom for her vision, perseverance, and extraordinary contributions to our State. I congratulate her on an exceptional career and wish her every success and happiness in the adventures that lie ahead. ____________________