It’s International Women’s Day, and around the country we’ll be drinking the results from many International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day sessions.
Women gather for collaboration brew day at Double-Barrelled Brewery
Attending an IWCBD brew day is widely recognised as a valuable opportunity for hands-on learning, networking, and skills development. For many women, participation has played a meaningful role in launching careers, building confidence, and supporting progression within the beer and brewing industry.
And, every year, more and more IWCBD events take place, both the brew day itself, and the launches of the beers made. This year, there were more than 80 brew days, and you can view the locations on a map here.
The campaign — supported by SIBA as headline partner — is a global celebration of the significant contribution of women in the beer industry, starting right back when brewing began to the present day.
Around 1,000 people come together at their local breweries to make new beers, raising thousands of pounds for women’s causes and creating support networks, communities, and connections that elevate beer careers and help make the beer industry more diverse and welcoming.
The campaign is delivered annually by Women On Tap CIC, who collate a central list of all the beers brewed as part of the campaign, complete with online webstore and trade sales details to encourage others to buy the beers in support of IWD. The list of beers can be viewed here.
Electric Bear teamed up with women from across their customer community to brew Parity People, a pale ale celebrating shared opportunity and collective progress.
It has been brewed with the Pink Boots Blend from Yakima Chief Hops, supporting the Pink Boots Society and its work empowering women and non-binary people in the fermented beverage industry. Last year’s donations topped $100,000.
Expect a light and sessionable pale ale with bright citrus up front, subtle pine notes, and a gentle tea-like finish. Soft-bodied, clean, and easy-drinking.
Led by some of their brewers, Sophie, Vismaya, and Chloe, this year’s Northern Monk release for International Women’s Day is a malt-forward and lightly herbal Irish red ale, Give To Gain (5% ABV).
“After plenty of wide-ranging conversations, and a couple of tastings, our team settled on a more unusual (for us) style after being voted for in-house by staff of various genders from across the business,” says the brewer. “The recipe creation, brew, artwork, and photography were all led and produced by women.”
There were whole-cone Harlequin and East Kent Goldings hops in the whirlpool, and WLP004 Irish Ale Yeast, donated by Whitelabs, was used. The latter is often found in classic Irish stouts.
Back in February, brewer Chelsea led a big team of women in making Unite, a 5% ABV hazy pale, at Double-Barrelled Brewery.
“Mosaic, El Dorado, Citra, Peacharine, Enigma, Nelson Sauvin, and Motueka bring waves of peach, pineapple, citrus, melon, and white grape, which we’ve finished with a subtle spice lift and gentle bitterness,” says the brewer.
Wild Horse Brewing Co made their IWCBD beer with some of their women trade partners. Tied By Tides is a crisp and refreshing 4.8% ABV NewZealand pilsner which showcases the unique characteristics of NZ hops Riwaka, Motueka, and Nelson Sauvin, with vibrant tropical fruit, passionfruit, and lime notes.
The label was designed by local artist Tilly Butters and reflects the similarities between the landscapes of Wales and New Zealand, and their connection by the sea.
Bluntrock Brewery created Cornish Bird for International Women’s Day, a 4.5% ABV pale ale, with a label designed by Molly Biscoe. It features Yakima Chief’s Pink Boots ninth annual blend, which comprises Ekuanot, Centennial, HBC 638, and Mosaic hops for flavours of fresh peach flesh, orange zest, and a hint of pine. It has a soft mouthfeel and a balanced bitterness.
