You know, for decades beer was sort of known as a guy’s drink. In the past, there weren’t many times that you would go to a restaurant, club, or bar and you would see may women with a beer in their hand. However, that has changed in recent years. Though 44% of women surveyed said they believed that beer is still perceived as a “man’s drink,” more and more women are drinking beer. Prior to the craft beer renaissance, beer really shared the same taste. The vast majority of beer sold in the US was of one style, a pale lager that was thin, flavorless and vaguely sweet. Men are more tolerant of what I like to call rough beer because our taste buds are a little different. Women’s taste buds are a little more sensitive and refined. So, flavorless beer simply wasn’t attractive to many women. The question that comes to mind is what role does craft beer play in the increase of women drinking beer?
Craft beer has kicked the door in for women and beer. You’re beginning to see more women getting into beer. You can definitely see it in taprooms and beer festivals. A few years ago, if you saw women in taprooms or beer festivals, they were with a man. Now, you are seeing groups of women in taprooms and beer festivals. I remember going to the Great American Beer Festival years ago and the percentage of women was low. This past GABF, there were ladies everywhere. I’m glad to see it. I know that Lady T is glad to see it. I was also wondering if taprooms should do more to attract more women to attend. The results show that most women believe that the taprooms are doing just fine. Plus, Lady T doesn’t really want to be treated any different and I believe that most women would agree with her.
In the past three years, beer was more popular than Prosecco, cocktails or gin, according to research which surveyed 1,000 women ages 25 and over. According to many beer enthusiast and researchers, craft beer has played a huge role. A 2014 Stanford survey of 2,500 breweries found that 21 percent had at least one woman in a leading role. There are women like Celeste Beatty of the Harlem Brewing Company, Liz Preston | Brewer, Prestonrose Farm and Brewing Co. | Paris, Arkansas, Jess Reiser | Co-owner, Burial Beer | Asheville, North Carolina, Robyn Schumacher: Stoup Brewing, Lauren Grimm: Grimm Artisanal Ales, Julia Astrid Davis: Lagunitas Brewing Co., L.A. McCrae of Black Star Line, and many others are really making their mark in craft beer and I love it.