Women Brewers

[funkapottomous]

That's likely very true. I think most (if not all) women have learned that identifying yourself as a woman on the internet inevitably leads to responses like, "OMGRUHOT?!?!?!" So I don't blame them. I don't think that would be very likely here, though.

As for the topic, I think most people are simply going with the trends rather than being sexist. The fact is that most home brewers are men, and a lot of women don't like a wide range of beers. Those things aren't true for every woman, but are true when you take the entire population.

So you can't blame someone if they think your husband is the brewer or if they think you want a fruity beer. Or if you are out buying yarn and someone thinks it is for your wife, even. Presumptuous? Yes. Sexist? I don't think so. It's just as presumptuous to say that people are assuming women aren't brewers because they think women can't brew.

In my opinion, though, I don't think many home brewers would say a woman can't brew as well as a man. That would be sexist. And we all seem smarter than that.

And, as an FYI, the owner of my LHBS is a woman. I would like to see this hobby become more diverse, though. Being a computer programmer and a home brewer, I see enough men.

seriously, just because I go into the sex shop and buy a gallon of anal lube every other week, people think i'm some kind of weirdo.

 

[passedpawn]

I hate the way that when I tell someone I am a homebrewer, they look all amazed and can't seem to take me seriously. They get a grin on their faces and look at me like I'm some kind of idiot. I can only imagine that this experience would be ten times worse if I were a real woman, and not simply "Clothing appropriate" Us men can be so insensitive sometimes.

THAT... is funny

 

[mojotele]

seriously, just because I go into the sex shop and buy a gallon of anal lube every other week, people think i'm some kind of weirdo.

I suppose I was asking for that one

 

[springer]

all the women in my family drink beer and not fruity ones either . My wifes Grandmother always had a 16 oz bottle of Stegmeier in hand on a summer day. And she could pack them away .

 

[jjwineaux]

Hellooooo brewers! Proud to be a new female brewer from Seattle. I only hope I can brew as well as I drink (and I am damn good at that).
Open to any and all advice....cheers!

 

[KYB]

My girlfriend is starting to brew. Her first beer was an All Grain Imperial (Hopped up) Mango Hefewezien. The mangoes really just added sugars, not really much flavor if any. She made the recipe and brewed it herself. I only did the heavy lifting. She would brew all the time if she could. She's really been wanting to again but time and money have been an issue. Her first beer was the second keg drained at my party, everyone loved it, and she loved that everyone loved it.

 

[midfielder5]

Instead of a womens only competition, I vote for a brew-treat. Brewing retreat.
The women can bring their S.O.'s, significant others, and we can send them away to shop or something
-Wendy in S.F.
Aka a soccer player who wears #5

 

[midfielder5]

My girlfriend is starting to brew. Her first beer was an All Grain Imperial (Hopped up) Mango Hefewezien. The mangoes really just added sugars, not really much flavor if any. She made the recipe and brewed it herself. I only did the heavy lifting. She would brew all the time if she could. She's really been wanting to again but time and money have been an issue. Her first beer was the second keg drained at my party, everyone loved it, and she loved that everyone loved it.

Congrats Dude. That's awesome!
Enjoy!!

 

[babsduff]

Anyone seen the BBC comedy "Coupling"? The character Susan explains her charm thus: "I have acute nymphomania and my own brewery."

As a female home brewer, I am usually treated well at my local home brew store but not by other customers at microbreweries I visit. They ask my husband, "Are you a home brewer?" He says, "Yes," instead of explaining that I'm the home brewer and he's the homebrew bottler....

 

[Yooper]

Anyone seen the BBC comedy "Coupling"? The character Susan explains her charm thus: "I have acute nymphomania and my own brewery."

As a female home brewer, I am usually treated well at my local home brew store but not by other customers at microbreweries I visit. They ask my husband, "Are you a home brewer?" He says, "Yes," instead of explaining that I'm the home brewer and he's the homebrew bottler....

Oh, a nymphomanic with a brewery does generate interest.....................

On a not-even-related note, I kegged two beers today and racked one wine. The beers are wonderful! I made a cream ale for a friend's retirement party in June, and it's great! I'm going to lager it for a month or so and it'll be even more flavorless than it is now, and I have a wonderful hoppy APA that will ge terrific in a couple of weeks. I love brewing, whether others can appreciate me or not.

The wine is going to be great, as well. I have 21 gallons now bulk aging, and they are really good wines.

 

[aksea102]

Worse than that is when you go into a new brewpub and the know-it-all 22 year old bartender offers me a "nice fruity wheat beer" to try. When I order an IPA, they explain what the letters "I P A" mean and tell me it's hoppy, and would I like a sample first? Now, I appreciate giving the customer good service and making them happy with their choices, but don't assume I want a flippin' wheat beer because I have breasts!

A-Freakin'-men!

Yooper-may I use that as my signature?? "don't assume I want a flippin' wheat beer because I have breasts!" Love It!

 

[Yooper]

A-Freakin'-men!

Yooper-may I use that as my signature?? "don't assume I want a flippin' wheat beer because I have breasts!" Love It!

Be my guest, but it's not really a deep thought. I can't believe I said that, actually. Well, yes I can. I drink, you know.

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

deep thought.

Mmmmm Douglas Adams and Linda Lovelace all in one. Two of my favourite, er, Philosophers.

 

[babsduff]

Worse than that is when you go into a new brewpub and the know-it-all 22 year old bartender offers me a "nice fruity wheat beer" to try. When I order an IPA, they explain what the letters "I P A" mean and tell me it's hoppy, and would I like a sample first? Now, I appreciate giving the customer good service and making them happy with their choices, but don't assume I want a flippin' wheat beer because I have breasts!

For some reason, I get this same reaction when I order a stout or a big Belgian, and I'm often asked if I've tried it before--I once said I'd been drinking that kind of beer since the bartender was in junior high, but he gave me a look as if he had been, too...

 

[Zamial]

For some reason, I get this same reaction when I order a stout or a big Belgian, and I'm often asked if I've tried it before--I once said I'd been drinking that kind of beer since the bartender was in junior high, but he gave me a look as if he had been, too...

I would just order 2 shots of Old Granddad or Wild Turkey 1st one for you and one for the bar keep. OR if you do not feel the need to pay... order a "chimney", when the bar keep asks what that is, tell them it is 1/2 of each of the whiskeys mentioned above in a shot glass. Drink it, then ask the barkeep if they know why they call that a chimney? when they give up or get it wrong tell them, "It is because it is on the house". Most barkeeps are pretty good about that the 1st time and after the bar keep sees you do a shot of that, they won't ask anymore stupid questions I would think.......

On a side note:
I really appreciate this thread as I was oblivious to the female brewing community, ale wives, and the lot. I have a much broader perspective now so I will NEVER assume that it is the "male" that is the brewer where ever I may be. GL and Hoppy brewing!

 

[jjwineaux]

Anyone seen the BBC comedy "Coupling"? The character Susan explains her charm thus: "I have acute nymphomania and my own brewery."

As a female home brewer, I am usually treated well at my local home brew store but not by other customers at microbreweries I visit. They ask my husband, "Are you a home brewer?" He says, "Yes," instead of explaining that I'm the home brewer and he's the homebrew bottler....

Ugh...Ditto here! I am originally a wine girl and love all beverage but got turned onto homebrewing from my Father-in-law. Since its his daddy, the hubs thinks he knows everything there is to know (very male like tendency). If he goes to the LHBS, he chats up the people and then can't even relay the correct information he gathered there!!
I got the ball rolling and received my brew kit for my Bday, have read every book within reach, joined forums, etc.... and yet he has found a way to attempt to take the lead as the "brewmaster" and his brewery names are hedonistic and completely unrelated to my involvement.

I used to get a chuckle out of the industry stereotype surrounding women...like when I would approach the table to offer my assistance and the host would ask me to go and get the sommelier........yeah, that's me A@@HOLE. Or when I am the guest at the table and the wine list would be presented to my date even when I was the one who asked for it. OH and when I order both drinks and when they make it to the table I am automatically served the Cider or Blue Moon and not the Guinness.

<sigh> That's my vent...glad to see I'm not alone Now hand me my drink...

 

[bob1852]

Now hand me my drink...

would you like a slice of lemon or orange with that drink hehehe. I kid, I kid

 

[jjwineaux]

Oh, a nymphomanic with a brewery does generate interest.....................

The wine is going to be great, as well. I have 21 gallons now bulk aging, and they are really good wines.

Where do you source your juice from? Whatcha got barreled?

 

[Yooper]

Where do you source your juice from? Whatcha got barreled?

Those are all "country" wines- wines from fruit we've picked ourselves. Mostly chokecherry, which is a dry red table wine that I oak just with oak chips in a carboy, and some crabapple.

I rarely make grape wines, as there isn't a good local source for me at all. I've made some catawba grape wine- with MLF the first time, without the second. It's, well, different. I have to buy frozen pails to get any wine grapes here. I'm thinking of a "road trip" this fall, though, and getting some grapes in a city may be in my plans!

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I oak just with oak chips in a carboy, and some crabapple.

I sometimes make beer that is fairly crapable too.

 

[babsduff]

Ugh...Ditto here! I am originally a wine girl and love all beverage but got turned onto homebrewing from my Father-in-law. Since its his daddy, the hubs thinks he knows everything there is to know (very male like tendency). If he goes to the LHBS, he chats up the people and then can't even relay the correct information he gathered there!!
I got the ball rolling and received my brew kit for my Bday, have read every book within reach, joined forums, etc.... and yet he has found a way to attempt to take the lead as the "brewmaster" and his brewery names are hedonistic and completely unrelated to my involvement.

I used to get a chuckle out of the industry stereotype surrounding women...like when I would approach the table to offer my assistance and the host would ask me to go and get the sommelier........yeah, that's me A@@HOLE. Or when I am the guest at the table and the wine list would be presented to my date even when I was the one who asked for it. OH and when I order both drinks and when they make it to the table I am automatically served the Cider or Blue Moon and not the Guinness.

<sigh> That's my vent...glad to see I'm not alone Now hand me my drink...

An update on my LHBS....when I go in, they ask me what I need and measure my grain for me. My male homebrew friend just reported that they make him measure it himself...

 

[billvon]

At "new" homebrew stores I visit when I'm traveling, sometimes I'm treated like a real brewer, sometimes not. Usually, they say "Can I help you?" to my husband who shrugs because he has no idea what brewing entails, beyond "grain".

I have the opposite problem. When I go to the bigger HBS around here, I can't get the time of day unless I'm with Amy. Then for some reason all the guys who work there want to talk to us . . .

 

[doctorRobert]

This thread needs PICS!!!

just kidding!

 

[Mermaid]

I suppose this would be a good thread to introduce myself and say hello.
I'm a female beer snob who just setup her very first batch of homebrew that is making lovely bloop bloop bloop noises from the corner of my bedroom (a quiet, cool spot that is the safest spot for the carboy at the moment).
I made the Twisted Enkel extract kit from NB.
Made sure the yeast pack (Wyeast 3864) was very much alive before I pitched it.
Added a tbsp of coriander last 5 minutes of boil.
Used an airation system (metal airstone + aquarium pump) prior to pitching the yeast.
StarSan is my friend.
Primary fermenter is a 6 ga. PET carboy.
The wort seems happy, and smells wonderful (hoptastic!)

Why did I get into homebrewing? Because I love good beer. I'm a big fan of Belgian dubbels and tripels, IPAs that have not been too terribly hopped, and other microbrew ales that have some character. Always get a kick out of when I'm at a local liquor store offering microbrew tastings, and I'm the only woman tasting the Belgian-style elixirs. Yeah, I get some serious nerd cred for that. :rockin:

Anyway, glad to see there are other women out there who are into homebrewing. This site is a great resource.

Should know by mid-June whether or not my first batch was a success.

 

[FromZwolle]

Women can't possibly have time to brew, they'd better be it the kitchen makin me a sammich!
But in all honesly, i do the cooking in my house.

there are so many posts i want to respond to in this thread, it's rediculous.

First, i love the idea of women brewers, but more than one brewer per household is a recipe for disaster, presuming there is limited room for fermenters/bottles/kegs.

First response, that painting is amazing. i love the imagery. the varied expressions, the animalistic bone fire and all that implies about life. wonderful artistry as well as historical representation.

Second, coupling is one of my favorite shows of all time. The giggle loop is real!

And lastly, yoop is our hero, it's time to admit it, put the machismo on the shelf for the time being.

Afterthought: the thought of a woman brewer drinking a hydro sample makes me tingly, take that as you may.

 

[machinelf]

 

[mky375]

My LHBS is run by a woman and I've asked her for advice a few times, and she was always dead on.

I signed up here just for that.

 

[bob1852]

I suppose this would be a good thread to introduce myself and say hello.
I'm a female beer snob who just setup her very first batch of homebrew that is making lovely bloop bloop bloop noises from the corner of my bedroom (a quiet, cool spot that is the safest spot for the carboy at the moment).
I made the Twisted Enkel extract kit from NB.
Made sure the yeast pack (Wyeast 3864) was very much alive before I pitched it.
Added a tbsp of coriander last 5 minutes of boil.
Used an airation system (metal airstone + aquarium pump) prior to pitching the yeast.
StarSan is my friend.
Primary fermenter is a 6 ga. PET carboy.
The wort seems happy, and smells wonderful (hoptastic!)

Why did I get into homebrewing? Because I love good beer. I'm a big fan of Belgian dubbels and tripels, IPAs that have not been too terribly hopped, and other microbrew ales that have some character. Always get a kick out of when I'm at a local liquor store offering microbrew tastings, and I'm the only woman tasting the Belgian-style elixirs. Yeah, I get some serious nerd cred for that. :rockin:

Anyway, glad to see there are other women out there who are into homebrewing. This site is a great resource.

Should know by mid-June whether or not my first batch was a success.

are you accepting marriage proposals?

 

[Mermaid]

are you accepting marriage proposals?

LOL been there, done that. I intend to be a wacky old lady someday, making my homebrew and enjoying it (in my garden) while listening to my dinosaur rock and growing my hair.

 

[hbomb]

That's fantastic, I'm totally going to steal it for my computer wallpaper.

Is there a "women brewers" group on the brewspace side of this forum? If not, we should start one!