Friday, June 21, 2019

Dames And Dregs, Women And Craft Beer

By Brenda Wagner


The name Dames and Dregs may mean nothing to most people though those whom attended the first female powered brewing festival in Atlanta will most likely be hearing it on an annual basis. For, it is the title of the first ever festival to showcase the female presence in the brewing industry. As such, the festival focuses attention on women and craft beer.

By empowering the female population to create and consume craft beers, the festival presented a number of different craft and micro-brews. In addition, a community discussion related to the business and success in brewing also took place. Whereas, according to one female brewer, Zuri Coleman from the Second Self Brewing company in Atlanta, the entire festival was a breath of fresh air compared to the many festivals in the city which focus more on the bro culture each year.

Through the formation of a national organization of female brewers known as the Pink Boots Society in 2007, women are now showing the importance of the female presence in the brewing industry. While sixteen members founded the organization, there are now over 2,500 members nationwide. As such, these individuals have made it clear that there is a major interest in brewing and the industry at large.

The names provided to the craft beer created by these individuals is also quite interesting. For example, Sufferin Til Sufferage in honor of the women's right to vote is among one of many which focuses on the history of the female population. In this case, the craft beer was created by two female brewers, one from Second Self and another for New Realm, both located in Atlanta.

When Zuri started working at the Second Self Brewery in 2015, there were only two other women working in the industry in Georgia. Now, there are new women becoming involved and working in the industry on an almost monthly basis. As a result, Atlanta is now one of a number of cities to host a local chapter of the Pink Boots Society.

One establishment, the Porter Bar which opened in Atlanta in 2008 fulfilled a long time dream for co-owners. For, the two always had a dream to provide a drinking establishment which would draw as many women as men. In order to meet such goal, the co-owners maintain a stock of over 800 beers, including a few micro-brews and beers crafted by female brewers.

It is believed that the lack of a mature craft and micro-brew scene in the city has been extremely beneficial to women interested in the business. For, since the majority of bars and restaurants still primarily serve corporate beer, women actually have a better chance of getting product to market in Atlanta than in other areas.

While there are still obstacles and challenges for female brewers, one of the biggest appears to be to create an interest among the female population when it comes to drinking craft beer. As such, those working in the industry continue to create interesting brews and titles in hopes of attracting these individuals. For, while most males have always been drawn to beer, most often corporate labels, the majority of females have gone in the other direction towards drinks such as Cape Cods, Cosmos, Hurricanes and Long Island Ice Teas.




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