Good Chemistry Brewing (GCB) welcomed around 40 local women to take part in their biggest open brewday yet, at its brewery in East Bristol.
The full All Welcome group at Good Chemistry’s brewery. Photographs: Good Chemistry Brewing
Alongside learning how beer is brewed and getting stuck into the processes, it was a chance to hear from other inspiring women across a range of industries, including beer and brewing.
The resulting beer, All Welcome, will be launched on 5th November to celebrate the third anniversary of GCB’s She Drinks Beer initiative.
This was started in November 2021 by brewery co-owner Kelly Sidgwick as a regular evening at the pub for women who enjoy beer, aiming to disrupt the traditionally male pub space and show that women belong in beer.
Since then it has taken place once a month across GCB’s award-winning north Bristol pub, The Good Measure, and their historic city centre pub, the Kings Head, as well as reaching further afield at other venues, including a bar showcasing women-led breweries at this June’s Bristol Craft Beer Festival.
‘Openness, accessibility, and inclusiveness’ are core values of the business, which celebrates its tenth year in business in 2025. One of the ways the brewery strives for this is by championing and celebrating women working in the beer industry, and women who enjoy drinking beer.
The brewday gets under way
This year, the All Welcome brewday was on a Saturday for the first time, to encourage participation from even more women beer drinkers, as well as women who work in the industry.
As part of the celebrations on the day, activities included Bristol Feminist Book Club, Women’s+ Whisky Night, MAKE pottery studio, and a talk and tasting on historic beer drinking from Dr Pam Lock, from the University of Bristol.
Bath Ales and St Austell brewing director, George Young, shared her brewing career story, as well as details of Institute of Brewing & Distilling (IBD) courses available to help women get into the brewing industry.
Food was provided by entrepreneurs supported by Ashley Community and Housing (ACH), and the brewery’s taproom, which opened to the public into the evening, was busy from the off.
“She Drinks Beer isn’t an organisation, it’s not political or asking you to join anything,” said Kelly. “It’s about getting together with your women friends in the pub to drink beer. Because when was the last time you were in a pub and it was mostly other women? It doesn’t happen very often.
St Austell and Bath Ales brewing director George Young address the All Welcome attendees
“Since starting She Drinks Beer, it’s gone from strength to strength, and we’re excited to celebrate another year with our popular anniversary beer, All Welcome. And we wanted to use it to give women not normally exposed to the workings of a brewery an opportunity to experience what happens on a brewday, and get stuck in helping to make it!
“We were delighted with the turnout, and can’t wait to get the beer we brewed together out across Bristol and the rest of the country.”
The limited-edition beer, All Welcome, is a light, hoppy 4.4% ABV pale ale, designed to be accessible and enjoyable, like the She Drinks Beer event itself. US and New Zealand hops come together for lime, grapefruit, and tropical fruit flavours and aromas.
Available in 30- and 50-litre kegs and 440ml cans, All Welcome will be launched at November’s She Drinks Beer at The Good Measure, on Tuesday, 5th November. The beer will also be available across Bristol and the country, including at some of the best women-led pubs, bars and shops.
Good Chemistry Brewing has spent the last nine years establishing a strong customer base in Bristol and developing a reputation for great beer and popular events, including the East Bristol Brewery Trail (of which Kelly is the main organiser).
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