Pike Brewing Company graciously hosted the fourth annual Women in Beer event during Seattle Beer Week. The celebration featured women involved in the Northwest craft beer industry along with local women-owned and operated businesses including cheesemakers, restaurateurs, cider makers, chocolatiers and more. Women in Beer took place on Monday, May 11, 2015 from 6:00 to 9:00 pm at Pike Brewing Company. Additionally the event benefited Planned Parenthood of the Great Northwest.
Women consume almost 32 percent of craft beer volume, almost half of which comes from women ages 21-34. Aside from being consumers, women have a long history of brewing beer as well.
The first person to historically document beer was Ninkasa, the Sumerian goddess. Ninkasa, AKA the goddess of beer, scribed a recipe for beer on a clay tablet. Women brewers were revered for their magical ability to transform granular sludge into grog. Women were the principal brewers for centuries and were responsible for introducing hops to the malty brew. Essentially, they were the original brewmasters!
By the 1700s, women brewers were commonplace throughout Europe. It was only during the Industrial Revolution, when commercial brewing was introduced, that men began to take over from women as master brewers.
Today, with the Northwest craft beer revival, more and more women are taking the lead at local breweries as brewers, bottlers, sales persons, marketers, cicerones and owners. Female brewmasters are constantly producing new beers that have appeal for both male and female consumers and are flying off production lines. Women beer drinkers have high expectations--they demand more more flavor, more complexity, more fruitiness, fewer calories and lower carbs. Women want beer with more style and character!
Women in Beer recognizes women’s historic role in beer and celebrates how women are molding today’s craft beer resurgence.
Photo credits: Pike Brewing Company
