Despite the idyllic notion that craft beer is an incredible industry founded on collaboration and camaraderie, the reckoning ignited by Brienne Allan’s work showcased that sexism is a rampant issue in beer that has often been swept under a rug for far too long.
Brienne’s work helped to shine greater awareness on the systemic issue and as a result, incremental change has begun, as seen with her Brave Noise collaboration campaign. Additionally, we’re constantly inspired by a new class of trailblazers like Ash Eliot, founder of Women of the Bevolution, who’ve stepped up to help continue to further Brienne’s cause, and our own Kindsey Bernhard, who launched the Boys are from Märzen podcast to spotlight incredible women in the industry, and Grace Weitz, editor for Hop Culture and organizer of Beers Without Beards festival, which celebrates women and non-binary led breweries. However, in the grand scope of things, there’s still so much that needs to be done to bring greater equity to a historically male-dominated industry.
It’s not enough to post that a brewery supports diversity and will work to combat racism, sexism, homophobia; there has to be actual action. Performative allyship does nothing.
Below is a list of women-owned breweries throughout the country. Keep in mind that many of these are co-owned by men as well, but having a woman making decisions at the top ideally trickles down. This list is meant to highlight the work that the women-led breweries are doing, not tokenize the fact that they have women at the helm. These women are talented leaders and brewers, so support them by drinking great beer and getting to know them as brewers and breweries first. Please comment or e-mail us with any other women/non-binary-owned breweries that we may have missed!
The Northampton Brewery in Northampton MA is owned by Janet Egelston. Janet is a pioneer in New England brewing history. At one time Janet was co-owner of 3 NE breweries. Currently she is the sole owner of Northampton. I worked for and with Janet in the early 90’s through the turn of the century. Strong feirce and independent Janet has always been a women to be reckoned with. Her story should be part of women in brewing history.
And actually I think its incredibly misleading to put husband and wife teams on here. By that logic, anythin is female-owned even though all the wife did is cosign the business loan. It cheapens the meaning of places that are truly female owned like Chemist spirits.
Actually I would do your own research and recheck this entire list if this is something you care about. “Woman-owned” is a specific term meaning 51% owned and controlled by women. Not “a woman is involved somewhere.” Just checked Burial in Asheville as well and its also a trio with only one woman. This article is misleading and frankly should be taken down.
It definitely doesnt count as female-owned if you can just as easily say its male-owned (or even worse a lot of these are predominantly male-owned). Out of the 32 listed for South Eastern US I could only confirm 10 were actually female-owned and that was being generous by including the ones that were one man one woman as long as it was the woman doing the brewing. Article needs a serious cleanup.
Local Craft Beer with 3 locations. 100% woman owned since 2015
Brewery/taproom in Tehachapi, CA 2015
Taproom/bowling alley Lancaster, CA 2022
Taproom Mojave, CA 2023
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