Chicks Who Brew

The brewery was always a man’s domain . They were the ones who grew harvested brewed the hops and eventually drank the finished product. Women who did both of the last two were looked down upon. Yet that’s all changing. There’s a whole new generation of ladies who lager, bringing new spins and tastes on the classic stouts and ales.

It was the topic of an article written by Nicole Lyn Pesce in the New York Daily News Now Focus section on Wednesday. Women brewers are becoming a part of the new beer making world.Micro breweries are being run by women and their influence is being seen and tasted in the new varieties. This is nothing new, as Ms, Pesce points out. Ancient Egyptians and Sumerian ladies first brewed drinks for their men while women in Colonial America made suds from corn and wheat harvested by their men. However the industry become male dominated during the Industrial Revolution and has remained that way until now. There are now 1,000 female brewers who belong to the Pink Boots Society for female brewers.
　

Female brewers are probably more creative than their male counterparts.Women do seek variety and sweeter flavors.Lost Coast Brewery, owned by Barbara Groom and Wendy Pound have created several with raspberry and chocolate brewed in .Their Indica India Pale Ale has a citrus tang to it which is a refreshing alternative to the usual earthy flavor. Although some women brewers such as Laurie Spitz scoff at these “ flavors”. She is a founder of The Moustache Brewing Company and prefers her brews with a hearty flavor of stout, burnt, rich, like the best coffees. Actually the fruit flavored brews really aren’t necessary. Women who may not like the taste of dark beer may be attracted to the almost java like taste of the traditional English brew.

The beer industry has changed thanks to microbreweries and artesanal beers. It is even changing more with more women creating new flavors and owning their own breweries. It ’may be a guy‘s business but its’getting a decidedly feminine slant.