From beakers to beer cans, Dulcie Neal made a complete 180-degree career switch when she joined HonestBrew in November 2021.
After eight years managing the NHS supply chain, Dulcie (pictured) decided to pursue her love for craft beer, diving straight into the world of craft curation.
Dulcie has always been an avid beer festival devotee, and home brewer on the side. The latter eventually spurred her on to switch industries while staying in the same field of expertise.
Combining her existing knowledge of supply chain management with her acumen in beer selection, her skills were honed further as she travelled around various beer events, taprooms, and breweries.
Dulcie is integral in HonestBrew’s curation process and hand-picks only the best craft beers to be included in the brand’s eshop.
“I am proud to be a representative of women who love craft beer in this male-dominated sector,” she says. “We are a small, close team at HonestBrew, and are always on the lookout to extend our support to breweries that invest in their people as much as their beer.
Supportive environment
“Prior to joining the industry, I had concerns about the treatment of women in craft brewing across the globe. However, I’m glad that I took a leap of faith and ended up in a supportive environment. There is a real sense of inclusion within HonestBrew, and the team has been welcoming since day one.”
Dulcie will to represent HonestBrew at Double-Barrelled Brewery’s International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) today, International Women’s Day. This is a worldwide annual event with the aim of encouraging all women interested in beer to be involved with the brewing process on the day.
With the theme of Unite: Celebration, the IWCBD is open to all who identify as women, and Dulcie looks forward to sharing her experience at the event.
Dulcie’s aims to encourage more women to enjoy craft beers and smash the stereotype that craft beer drinkers ‘look like bearded old guys’.
She says: “There are some great female-led brewing events that beer lovers can get involved with, such as International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day. But if you’re looking to start small and explore your tastebuds, I highly recommend an intro box to find out what kind of beers you really like, and go from there.”
Dulcie’s top five beers
- Brew York, Tonkoko
- Yonder Brewing, Loop
- Boundary Brewery, Imbongo
- Exale Brewery, Krankie
- DEYA Brewing, Steady Rolling Man
