International Women's Collaboration Brew Day
International Women's Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) is an annual event held on 8 March, to coincide with International Women's Day. The event was first started in 2014, when 60 women brewmasters around the world simultaneously brewed the same recipe of craft beer. [1] The event helps to raise awareness of women in brewing industries, especially as beer brewmasters. It is also a chance for women interested in brewing to network with one another. [2]
History
The idea for the IWCBD came from Project Venus member, Sophie de Ronde, who reached out to the Pink Boots Society in 2013 to start a "unified brew day."[3] De Ronde wanted the day "to encourage women to brew together."[4] The day was meant to coincide with International Women's Day and would "raise awareness of women in the brewing industry and raise money for local charities and Pink Boots Society."[3] Brewing beer is a male-dominated industry and is "still struggling with sexism and gender bias."[5] Another participant said, "I'd like to normalize the idea that women can and do work in the brewhouse along with other departments in a brewery."[6]
The first year, 2014, over 60 women in five different countries brewed a pale ale called Unite.[7] In 2015, there were 80 women from eleven different countries involved who worked together to brew Unite red ale.[3][6] In South Africa, Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, helped organize the first IWCBD event in Johannesburg.[8] For 2016, the type of beer brewed was a gose.[9]
References
- Bennett, Sarah (7 March 2014). "L.A.'s Female Brewers to Celebrate International Women's Collaboration Brew Day". LA Weekly. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- Corne, Lucy. "South African ladies celebrate International Women's Collaboration Brew Day". Brewmistress. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- "Second Annual International Women's Collaboration Brew Day Attracts Global Participation". Brewbound. 24 February 2015. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- Gildea, Samantha (19 February 2016). "Brew with Riverhead Brewery Tap to celebrate International Women's Day 2016". The Huddersfield Daily Examiner. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- Leblanc, Robin (22 January 2016). "Inherent Weisse: Fighting Sexism in the Craft Beer World". Torontoist. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- Batz Jr., Bob (1 April 2015). "Beer: Sisters Are Brewin' It for Themselves". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- Bennett, Sarah (19 March 2014). "L.A.'s Lady Brewers Releasing Beer Made on International Women's Collaboration Brew Day". LA Weekly. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- Cotterell, Gareth (15 July 2016). "South African Women Making it Big in the World of Brewing". CNBC Africa. Archived from the original on 20 November 2016. Retrieved 19 November 2016.
- Cranisky, Drew (28 March 2016). "Breakfast at Shelley's Opens, Plus the Pink". Next Pittsburgh. Retrieved 19 November 2016.