Lotte Peplow, the Brewers Association’s American craft beer ambassador for Europe, offers tips and advice for women in the beer industry.
Lotte Peplow
International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day was started in 2013 to recognise and celebrate women in the beer industry, and takes place at the same time as International Women’s Day, on 8th March. Women from around the world will come together to brew a beer under the ‘Unite’ banner, and this year the theme is ‘Unite Celebration’.
As a woman in the beer industry, I am often asked about my journey. The best advice I can give to anyone looking to break into the industry is to educate and inform yourself about all things to do with brewing and beer knowledge. It’s crucial to gain a basic understanding of beer styles and build your beer flavour vocabulary. Talking accurately and knowledgeably about beer styles and flavour fluency will help garner respect from your peers and boost your credibility as a beer connoisseur.
Find useful tools at:
- Brewers Association beer style guidelines
- craftbeer.com beer styles study guide
- Beer Judge Certification Programme style guidelines
Familiarity with off-flavours, common problems encountered in the brewery, and when to send a beer back will also be useful. Here’s a good resource, again at craftbeer.com.
The Brewers Association (BA) has a Draught Beer Resource Hub dedicated to providing resources for draught system installers, beer wholesalers, retailers, and brewers. Some key resources you may find especially helpful when getting started are:
- Draught Beer Quality Manual Although predominantly written for American draught systems, this ultimate draught beer guide includes information about line cleaning, draught system components and design, gas dispense and balance, proper pouring, and sanitation. Find out more
- Draft Beer Quality Workshops These workshop recordings provide education on best practices for all aspects of handling and serving of draught beer. Find out more
If you’re keen on beer and food pairing, the Brewers Association publishes free resources, such as the Beer and Food Course, which is perfect for training staff or educating yourself. It can be downloaded free at www.craftbeer.com
For examples of world-class quality American craft beer, I invite you to join a series of tastings in March, free to anyone that can get along:
- SIBA BeerX 3.15pm, 17th March, for trade and industry professionals. Find out more
- Eat Drink Festival, Ideal Home Show 15th, 21st, and 22nd March, for beer lovers. Find out more
We’ll be sampling innovative, exciting, and creative American craft beers, many of which are unavailable in the UK, from Athletic Brewing Co, DC Brau Brewing Co, Fremont Brewing Co, Rogue Ales, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co, Stone Brewing Co, and Virginia Beer Co. During the SIBA BeerX tasting, the brewers themselves will be joining via live video stream from America.
I’m looking forward to showcasing American craft beer and its unparalleled flavour, which is achieved through the use of high-quality raw materials, technical brewing expertise, and an unswerving commitment to quality, from production right the way through the supply chain.
But it’s not just me saying this. American craft beer regularly wins top honours at prestigious international beer competitions, judged by the best beer tasting palates in the world.
Later in March, on the 26th, Mother’s Day gives you the perfect excuse to introduce your mum to the wonderful world of American craft beer (if she isn’t a fan already!). Whether your mum is an ardent hop-head or has never touched a drop in her life, there’s a beer style for everyone and it’s simply a case of experimenting. What’s more, beer contains no more calories than a glass of wine. Half a pint of 5% ABV beer contains 120 calories, while a standard 175ml glass of
wine is 133 calories (source NHS), so there’s really no excuse not to try it!
About the Brewers Association
The Brewers Association (BA) is the not-for-profit trade association dedicated to small and independent American brewers, their beers and the community of brewing enthusiasts.
The BA represents 5,700-plus US breweries. The BA’s independent craft brewer seal is a widely adopted symbol that differentiates beers by small and independent craft brewers.
The BA organises events including the World Beer Cup, Great American Beer Festival, Craft Brewers Conference and BrewExpo America, SAVOR: An American Craft Beer and Food Experience, Homebrew Con, National Homebrew Competition and American Craft Beer Week.
The BA publishes The New Brewer magazine, and Brewers Publications is the largest publisher of brewing literature in the US.
Beer lovers are invited to learn more about the dynamic world of craft beer at CraftBeer.com and about homebrewing via the BA’s American Homebrewers Association and the free Brew Guru mobile app.
In the UK, American craft beer can be found at online retailers such as Athletic Brewing, The Malt Miller, beermerchants.com, Beer Bruvs, Beer Gonzo, or selected bottle shops, off-licences, online subscription services, and supermarkets, and selected pubs and bars.
