Beer and Women

The beer brewing industry has traditionally been the realm of men. From brewmasters, to beer barons and advertising targets, men have been hailed as the grail of American beer barrelers. Recently, however, women have been picking up a pint or two and are joining the fray.

Today women are drinking more beer than ever. Women 50 years+ are a growing demographic for beer sales. In the 21-30 age group women are consuming more beer than any other age.

Beer is the new wine and women are figuring this out. Women have shied away from drinking beer for many perceived reasons: excess calories, bitter flavors, and a workman's image. Formerly seen as fattening, beer is now recognized to have only slightly few more calories than the vintners' product. Beers are now available in many flavors and styles, some more suited to women's sweet-loving palates than hoppy, American-style lagers.

And now that women work alongside and above men in every area of employment, gender barriers and misconceptions are falling away. Plus, beer is now being recognized for some of its healthier aspects such as its content of anti-oxidants and complex B-vitamins.

Women have been used as advertising objects for the brewing industry, used as lures to hook men on their brand. Some companies had booked a bevy of busty ladies, such as Old Milwaukee'sSwedish Bikini Team, in order to seduce men. Olde Frothingslosh, however, had turned the paradigm on its head by featuring over-sized, beer-gutted females on their cans back in the 1970's.

The world of commercial brewing has also been male-dominated. The endemic nature of paternalistic business practices excluded women until the past few generations. Still not paid at the scale of men in the same positions throughout the business world, women have achieved some of the loftiest and most important positions. Brewmaster, or brewmistress, is no exception. Salute to Pink Boots!

The list of brewmen is nearly as long as the list of men who find themselves attractive. Some enterprising beer lovers have attempted to develop comprehensive listings of brewwomen.

I'll lay it on the line: I like women and I like beer. Sometimes they come together in the most wonderful of ways.