One day soon, the idea of an article celebrating women in the brewing industry may not be necessary as parity in the industry is slowly established. The gender barriers of this once male dominated business are breaking down … so much so that many simply don’t think about their role in the industry along gender lines.
Melanie Eelman, Head Cider Maker at Annapolis Cider Company, is one of those people. She says, “I’ll be honest. I don’t really think of myself in terms of gender.” Eelman’s background is in chemistry — she has a PhD from Dalhousie University and did her post-doctorate work at the University of Ottawa — followed by a stint working with Sean Myles (co-owner of Annapolis Cider Company and world recognized expert in apple genetics) at the Kentville Research Station. As Eelman says “I’ve always been a foodie … I love homebrewing and cooking and have always been interested in those intricate processes of fermentation and whatnot — so it was a natural progression to this developing industry.”
Perhaps because the commercial cider industry is in its infancy in Nova Scotia, there are fewer historic inequities compared to the brewing industry. Kelly Costello of Halifax’s Good Robot Brewing, who went from being a teacher to server — both female-dominated industries – says “I didn’t see myself as a brewer because I didn’t see other women as brewers … but then it just occurred to me that I can do this. I tried it. Now there are women, including women of colour and brewers of various sexual orientations. I’ve gotten some backlash for speaking up for people that don’t fit the classic brewer stereotype, but I don’t want to stop. Just make room!”
Costello has become a vocal advocate of women in the industry, but she says “I didn’t set out to do this — it just kind of became clear that this was my responsibility — that people were listening to me — I was vocal and stood up for myself.”
One of the ways Costello has acted as an advocate for women in the industry is by getting involved with the Ladies Beer League (LBL) — a local non-profit with the goal of creating safe, welcoming spaces for women to talk about, share and enjoy local craft beer. LBL also shines a light on women working in the industry.
“I like to think of it as a social club with a cause,” says Meg Stewart, Chair of the Ladies Beer League Board of Directors. “The League hosts a variety of events - about once a month - to highlight the amazing local craft beer scene, launch collab brews with local breweries and raise much-needed funds for local female-centered charities like Avalon Sexual Assault Centre.”
Stewart says when the League was first established in the summer of 2013 — before her time on the board began — there was no real outlet for women to band together over their love of beer — or many beer-centered events being hosted in the province, for that matter.
A lot has changed in less than seven years of incredible growth within the beer business. A prime example is the event the LBL is hosting this Friday in celebration of International Women’s Day. Axe the Patriarchy is being held 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Timber Lounge, an axe throwing bar on Agricola Street in Halifax. That night will feature live music by Laura Merrimen, axe throwing, a DIY craft station, not to mention beer on tap crafted by women, including the LBL’s collab brew with Propeller Brewing — a dry-hopped blonde dubbed “Call Me Blondie.”
Stop in to try a sip and raise a glass to the rise of women in the craft beer industry. Partial proceeds from the event go to Alice House, a local non-profit dedicated to providing housing and counselling to women and children who have suffered domestic abuse.
