Page 32 - ARUBA TODAY

A32 FEATURE
Friday 9 March 2018
Hops and hopes: Female brewers toast Women's Day

By JENNIFER McDERMOTT "It's dominated by white
Associated Press men. There's no question
Female brewers worldwide about it," he said. "Any way
are raising a stein to Inter- we can encourage any
national Women's Day. and all diversity, it's going
Thousands of women in the to be better for all of us."
beer business and female Studies in recent years have
homebrewers are brewing found that women hold
together around the event, about a quarter of brewery
which falls on Thursday, jobs in the United States.
seeing it as a way to raise About 20 people attended
the profile of women in a the Connecticut event.
male-dominated industry. Shannon Jutras, president
"There's a spot for every- of the Quiet Corner Home-
body in brewing and es- brew Club, said she is en-
pecially in learning about couraging more women
brewing," said Emily Eng- to brew as a hobby, which
dahl, executive director of could eventually lead to
the Pink Boots Society, a more women seeking jobs
U.S. nonprofit that supports in the industry and shatter-
women in the brewing in- ing the stereotype that it's
dustry. "It's important we all a manual job for men only.
help each other." "To have a room full of
British brewer Sophie de In this Sunday, March 4, 2018, photo, Shannon Jutras, of Foster, R.I., front right, president of Quiet women, all eager and inter-
Ronde began encouraging Corner Home Brew Club, reacts after smelling hops while helping brew a batch of beer at Black ested, who were develop-
Pond Brews brewery, in Danielson, Conn.
women to brew together Associated Press ing a little bit of confidence
on March 8 five years ago
to promote female brewers theme is exotic ingredients. breweries are participating
and beer drinkers, and to They call their beer "Unite ." in the society's collabora-
draw others in. The Pink Boots Society tion brew day, which is up
It has grown globally, used to collaborate with from 115 last year.
with about 160 breweries, de Ronde but now runs its Seeing the number of
homebrew clubs and other own event to raise money women getting involved
beer lovers in 12 countries for educational scholar- is heartwarming, said de
hosting a free Internation- ships for its members and Ronde, head brewer at
al Women's Collaboration to comply with rules for Burnt Mill Brewery in Suffolk,
Brew Day this year. The nonprofits. More than 200 England.

In this Sunday, March 4, 2018, photo, Pink Boots Collaboration
Brew Day 2018 buttons are displayed on a table at Black Pond
Brews brewery, in Danielson, Conn.
Associated Press

"Having the unity of peo-
ple brewing on the same to maybe try this indepen-
day is wonderful," she said. dently, was not just exciting
"But having people get in- for me, it was a little emo-
volved, no matter what the tional," she said. "It was the
day is, is what the whole first time we've gotten that
event is about, really." many women in the room."
The women's day brewing Most of the breweries work-
events are complementa- ing with Pink Boots are in
ry, Engdahl said. the United States, with 40
"It's a natural way for us to events in California alone
get together, share ideas and about 25 more in
and have a creative col- Massachusetts. There are
laboration," she said. "And participants in nine other
who doesn't want to make countries, with the most in
a beer that tastes great?" Canada and Brazil.
Black Pond Brews in Daniel- They're using a blend of
son, Connecticut, hosted hops created for the brew
homebrewers and beer day to make various beer
enthusiasts on Sunday for a styles. Both women and
Pink Boots event. men, Pink Boots mem-
In this Sunday, March 4, 2018, photo, Heather Merson, of Danielson, Conn., left, and Shannon The industry benefits from bers and nonmembers,
Jutras, of Foster, R.I., right, president of Quiet Corner Home Brew Club, raise their glasses in a toast bringing in more people can brew for the day.
after helping brew a batch of beer at Black Pond Brews brewery, in Danielson, Conn. with different ideas, said Many events take place
Associated Press
co-owner Mike Teed. Thursday.q