Brave Noise Collaboration Beer Launches Globally to Advocate for a Safe, Inclusive Industry

When Brienne Allan, Brewer at Notch Brewing, asked a question via an Instagram story: “Have you ever experienced sexism in the beer industry?” the floodgates unexpectedly opened with personal stories exposing the pervasive nature of the industry’s deep-seated misogyny, harassment, racism, and sexual assault.

At that moment, there was no turning back and the craft beer industry was finally going to have a long-overdue reckoning that would consume high-profile breweries, beer education organizations, and many more across the industry.

Photo courtesy of Brienne Allan @ratmagnet

As CEOs stepped down, terminations began, and internal investigations were launched, the “bevolution” was in motion, fueling the realization that addressing the industry’s long-standing “bro culture” is going to require a long-term commitment to change, time, and resources.

To keep the momentum going and to honor those who have shared their stories, Allan announced a global beer collaboration, “Brave Noise,” designed to advocate for safe spaces and inclusive environments by requesting breweries be transparent with their policies and commit to long term work.

“The Brave Noise collaboration is meant to provide awareness and create action for safe and inclusive environments in the beer industry,” says Allan. “I hope breweries join us in advocating for change and develop resources to best support industry professionals and customers for a better (beer) world.”

Allan is working with several partners including Women of the Bevolution, founded by Ash Eliot, “In order for the beer industry to change, we need breweries and beer industry leaders to step up and develop clear actions for a safe and inclusive space for women and those who identify as female, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ individuals,” says Eliot. With this global beer collab, I believe it’s one step in that direction. This is a chance for all brewing-related businesses to show up, be transparent with staff and customers, and come together for the greater good of the industry.”

How Breweries Can Participate

Breweries can submit a form through BraveNoiseBeer.com and must follow a few key steps:

Submit a link to their Code of Conduct
Brew the Pale Ale and, publicly post their Code of Conduct and resources available for staff and customers via their website, QR code and/or signage at their physical location
Make a donation to a relevant charitable or non-profit organization. We encourage breweries to donate a majority of the sales to an organization that best supports the mission of this collaboration. View a list of recommended organizations here.
Make a long-term commitment to creating a safe and inclusive work environment for all

Breweries are not the only ones that can participate, there is a way for homebrewers and beer drinkers to support the movement as well.

Additional resources and partners for this collaboration include Women of the Bevolution, HRuprise, Beer Diversity, SoCal Cerveceros Homebrew Club, Under the Jenfluence, #NotMe App and The Good Hop.

Contact [email protected] for further questions on the collab or to get involved.

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About Brienne Allan

Brienne Allan, Brewer at Notch Brewing in Salem, MA, is a professional brewer with over 9 years of experience. She has held chapter lead roles with Pink Boots Society in the Boston area. In late May 2021, Allan after sharing her own story about sexism in the industry, she asked her Instagram followers “Have you ever experienced sexism in the beer industry?” She received hundreds of stories from women who have faced gender discrimination, sexual assault and harassment, and racism. Since then, thousands of stories have been shared online, which has created a #MeToo movement in the beer industry. With the Brave Noise collaborative brew initiative, she hopes breweries will join her in advocating for change and develop resources to best support beer industry professionals and customers.

About Notch Brewing

Brewing session beer since before it was cool. Launched in 2010, Notch Brewing – named for the nick made to keep a record when you’re having more than one – was the first brewing company in the U.S. to focus exclusively on session beer. At the time, we simply wanted to brew the beers we loved to drink because finding them was a challenge. Session beer has been enjoyed in every great beer brewing nation for centuries, yet in the U.S. it was overlooked. So we set out to brew the world’s classic session styles from the Czech Republic, Germany, England, and Belgium, as well as explore how session beer could fit with the U.S.’s hoppy beer infatuation. Over a decade later, we have a brewery built on the back of session beer and it’s proven two things: beer consumers like options, and session beer is a great one.

About Brave Noise

Brave Noise is a collaborative effort to provide inclusive and safe environments for women, BIPOC, and LGBTQ+ throughout the beer industry. By brewing this beer, your brewery is standing in solidarity with those who shared their stories about mistreatment and who are survivors of gender discrimination, racism, sexual assault, and harassment within the industry. By standing with us now, you are part of the movement for change that is long overdue in beer.

Beer has always been a great unifier. Let’s come together, discuss how we can do better, and create inclusive and safe environments for our staff and consumers.

Take the next steps and let’s build our (beer) community for the better.