BeerDorks.com: Reviews, Commentary and Opinions on Midwest Craft Beer and Microbreweries

 
October 10, 2012

Beer Issues:

Here’s to the Ladies

Craft beer, and history, proves that beer isn’t just for the guys.
by Rings

Rings is an equal opportunity imbiber. He can also be found sampling his way across multiple continents, or wasting time at TheFatty.com and KentBaseBall.com. Prost!
Contact Rings»
It’s amusing and frustrating that the beer industry is often pegged as a “guy’s world.” Much of this probably has evolved from the historical Women’s Christian Temperance Movement (yes, it still exists), Carrie Nation and the ilk that resulted in the “Noble Experiment” of Prohibition. It may also have something to do with the idiotic marketing departments at major beer companies who continue to push the rather insulting idea that bikinis and bosoms are the best way to sell beer (not that I’m against either, but it’s certainly never the reason I choose my beer).

Reality is, women were historically far more often the brewers in the homes before industrialization and the rise of commercial brewing. In the craft world, where what’s inside the beer counts, we’re seeing the emergence of a fairer voice again.

The stigma of beer as only for men may have something to do with the idiotic marketing departments at major beer companies.
Personally, my original German brewmaster, under whom I did my apprenticeship in Munich, was female, so I had long taken note of women in the industry. There are some fantastic blogs, including Kelli at MIBeers.com (see Facebook) and Jessica at GirlsLikeBeerToo.com here in the Midwest. Women are emerging as talented brewers and owners (New Glarus, Arbor Brewing Company) as well. There’s even a regular column in the Michigan Beer Guide by Brenda Cooke/Wood, specifically on issues important to many women, particularly sustainability.

Point is, the fermented arts are open to everyone, male or female … and quite honestly, much more pleasant when we all enjoy them together.

Cheers!



Drinkin’ And Thinkin’

Beer Dorks News

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Did Anheuser-Busch Chicago offer their shit beer to Cody Parkey before his missed field goal? Because that may explain why he "accidentally" biffed it.
Chicago now has the most breweries of any city in the country. Other things Chicago has the most of: murders, mobsters, and Ditkas.
Trying to spin it positive, BA releases end of year graphic. Only 5% growth in the craft sector when nearly 1000 new breweries opened? That's a collapse waiting to happen.
R.I.P. Tallgrass... another casualty as the regional/national craft beer market continues to get squeezed.
Wait... Constellation Brands cut all of the Ballast Point and Funky Buddha sales staff? They merged it with their Corona/Modelo staff?? We're SHOCKED!!!
Pizza Beer founder crying about failure of company, blames everyone else. Reminder, the beer tasted like vomit. Try having better ideas or making better products so you're not a failure.
It's Bud Light so doesn't really matter, but we expect this beer to be sitting around for awhile.
Indiana brewery to open with controversial beer names to "get the conversation going". Translation: taking advantage of serious issues for free publicity.
Hundreds of amazing beers in Wisconsin and the Cubs took back the one everyone drinks just because it exists and people have heard of it. How fitting...