Hopefully, you’ve enjoyed my series on Women in Craft Beer. It’s been a fun and challenging experience for me. As a way to leave things on a positive note, let’s talk about gender equality in craft beer.
Equality is a word that is used a lot. Everyone seems to want equality. And while it seems difficult to achieve, there are things we can do to improve gender equality in craft beer.
In all aspects of life, we should strive to treat each other better and still acknowledge our differences, strengths and abilities. Grace, compassion and understanding are needed to make that happen and we all get to become better people as we learn.
Here are a few ways that we can work towards improving gender equality in craft beer.
Support Women Focused Groups
Craft beer has some amazing organizations that are helping women get involved in the world of craft beer both professionally and as an enthusiast.
The main function of this group is to produce events at local breweries that are focused on attracting women. While men are often included, the goal is to get more women into more taprooms and educate them about craft beer.
Cincinnati Girls Pint Out is a 501c3 nonprofit that helps build a community of women who enjoy and appreciate craft beer. We have several outings around the city each month. Nationally the group has been around since 2010, with now 100 chapters across the United States. We have been established in Cincinnati since December 2013, and we can continue to grow.
Read More About The Cincinnati Girls Pint Out
This society heavily focuses on education and learning the beer judging process so more women can participate.
Both of these groups are actively helping to foster gender equality in craft beer.
Check out their sites and learn how you can become more involved in their missions.
Buying Decisions
I didn’t hold back in my article about the use of women in craft beer marketing. Using sex to sell is a bad business strategy. It often leaves many potential customers feeling disgusted, hurt and excluded.
Buying craft beer from breweries that use these methods only encourages them to continue to do it. So by not buying their beer, you are supporting gender equality in craft beer.
Become a fan of brands that make great beer, support their communities and develop marketing that resonates with customers for the right reasons. Avoid brands that do the opposite.
If we want the future of craft beer to be different then our actions must be different. This will encourage breweries to remember that they are marketing to women and men so their branding should reflect that.
Don’t Assume
Don’t assume anything; instead ask and learn.
Women have a wide range of interests. So do not assume they know less than men about beer and brewing. And don’t assume they prefer wine or cocktails over beer.
These are real assumptions that happen on a regular basis but aren’t helpful in any way. They exclude women from feeling part of the craft beer community. If any of us want the craft beer movement to continue, then we must be appealing to every demographic.
So instead of assuming, realize that you aren’t “all knowing” and ask questions. You’ll probably find a lot of women know a lot about beer and their style preferences.
We Need Mentors
This can be done by helping others find educational resources or by talking about beer styles and brewing. Beer isn’t as simple as it may seem and can easily intimidate anyone that is new to the industry.
If you are unable to meet with other women directly, you can still have an impact. Most of the women I talked to through this process told me that there was someone they looked up to.
For example, Lindsey Roeper from Rivertown said, “I really look up to Mariah & Sam Calgione. I really admire their business sense, creativity and unapologetic way they embrace and grow their culture as individuals and as a couple.”
For her, it was just as much about Mariah being a standout women in craft beer as it was about how they operated as a couple. But she never mentioned actually meeting Mariah. Her impact was made from a distance and gave her inspiration to do great things.
And the mentors do not have to be female; men can step up and help women find the right resources and opportunities to have a career in craft beer.
Education
Learning about beer and brewing is a daunting task. There’s a lot to know so additional resources for education are critical for closing the gender gap.
This is really important to Kristen Ballinger of Listermann Brewing and she gives this advice to women looking to find a career in craft beer. “(Get started in beer) By learning about it – reading, drinking, attending events, brewing, etc. It just takes that motivation and passion for beer to get started.”
She believes that taking time to learn about beer is the best way to make it your career. She also noted that there are many different types of jobs in the industry. Not everyone needs to be a brewer or a marketer. She said to first develop a passion for beer and then find out how to apply your skills as a career.
The organizations mentioned above can be a great resource for locating educational tools and receiving encouragement.
Be A Place For Everyone
Another way the industry can change to create more gender equality in craft beer is to provide taprooms and events that are more inclusive.
Many breweries offer a wide variety of events that tend to appeal to a wide audience but we can always do better.
Events that are inclusive to all types of people encourage diversity. I love seeing a mix of people at beer events including men, women, families, pets, etc.
Lindsey from Rivertown noted that they consciously consider how they can be a place for everyone. This includes they type of beer offered, the food menu (BBQ, fish, vegetarian and vegan), as well as activities for men, women, kids, families, couples, singles and just about anyone else you can think of.
She says, “Their ExBEERience Architects are focused on making every guest who walks through our doors feel warm, welcomed and appreciated.”
Be A Good Person
It shouldn’t be hard to treat people well but let’s be honest and admit that is can be tough sometimes. Humans can do amazing things and at the same time be incredibly selfish and hurtful.
So we should all strive to be better people and treat each other better. This also means that we have to be willing to move forward.
I know that many women have commented about how taprooms are generally welcoming but occasionally there other customers that make them feel uncomfortable. There’s no excuse for “locker room” talk. It detrimental to our culture and hurts the taproom experience for many.
And even though I’ve focused on gender issues in craft beer, it applies to so much more. In general, craft beer needs more diversity.
Final Thoughts
The reality is that craft beer is continually influenced by women. Some women are in leadership roles where they are guiding the decisions of a brewery. Others are brewing and packaging the beer. While others are selling and pouring it.
The craft beer industry is made stronger with diversity and that includes women.
And on the topic of diversity, I hope to address more topics like this in the future but would love to know what you thought about this series of articles about women in craft beer. Shoot me a message, comment below or contact me on social media and give me some feedback.
How Are You Improving Gender Equality In Craft Beer?
Make Sure To Read The Rest Of The Series:
Women In Craft Beer: 4 Women Tell Their Craft Beer Story
Women In Beer Marketing: Often Offensive And Rarely Effective