It’s International Women’s Day (IWD) today and there are events up and down the country celebrating women’s role in brewing and offering beer tastings.
International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) has been part of IWD since 2014. It was set up by Burnt Mill head brewer Sophie de Ronde as a platform for women in the beer industry, homebrewers, and local communities to unite and create new beers in celebration of IWD.
This year, Women On Tap CIC has revitalised the campaign, with several updates. Inspired by the Brave Noise initiative, participating breweries are now encouraged to pledge a donation to a non-profit women’s organisation or group at sign-up.
The Brave Noise project was instigated by Brienne Allan, production manager at Massachusetts-based Notch Brewing, who in spring 2021 used her Instagram account (@ratmagnet) to highlight the accusations of sexism that had been shared with her. The outcry that followed has brought about a reckoning in the industry, with breweries all over the US and the UK signing up to the Brave Noise Code of Conduct, and brewing their own version of the same pale ale recipe.
For IWCBD, breweries have been encouraged to support local or personally significant non-profit women’s causes, including those that align specifically with the beer diversity mission.
You can find out more about events this weekend in the Beer Today listings.
Celebration beers
Northern Monk: Accelerate Action (5% ABV)
A lightly-smoked hefeweizen created by female Monks and friends. “Think freshly-baked banana bread with some liquid smoke to round out the edges,” says the brewer.
Amity Brew Co: Athena (4.3% ABV)
Brewed in collaboration with Lifted Ventures and She Who Dares Wins. Lifted Ventures empowers female founders with the investment and resources to fuel the UK economy, while She Who Dares Wins amplifies the voices of incredible women via a podcast and community. The DDH NEIPA features New Zealand hops Nelson and Nectaron, creating a juicy, hazy, and fruity profile with vibrant notes of grapefruit and citrus.
Double-Barrelled Hopes (5% ABV)
A hazy pale ale brewed by the women of Double-Barrelled. It will feature in a tap takeover at the brewery today (8th March), alongside other IWD specials from Tap Social, Brew York, and Flowerhorn. Ten per cent of bar sales of Hopes will go to Smart Works, an organisation from Berkshire supporting women into work.
Electric Bear: That’s What She Said (4% ABV)
The pale ale is light in colour but super hazy, with aromas of stonefruits and a subtle bittersweet finish of citrus rind.
Neon Raptor: Debunked (6% ABV)
A collaboration with the No Half Measures Collective, a group of enthusiastic, beer-loving women in Nottingham. “Established in 2022 when eight of us met for a pint, we’ve grown organically into a 50-plus strong gang of beer novices and nerds,” says the group. “Our informal ambition is to raise the profile of women in beer and help make the Nottingham beer scene a welcoming place for everyone.”
Mauldons: Anna Maria (4.2% ABV)
A tradtitional bitter honouring Mauldons’ founder, Anna Maria Mauldon. It uses England’s oldest hop variety, Fuggles, and the renowned Maris Otter malted barley, a 60-year-old variety known for its deep, rich flavour. The result is a dark, malt-driven beer, reminiscent of the ales typical of Anna Maria’s era.
