SAB | What’s happening in the SAB world

When you think of beer, what comes to mind? Is it an image of men huddled around a TV screen, draughts in hand, as the women turn up their noses and sip on their glass of white wine? If this is the image you have, then you need to change your views on beer. What used to be seen as a male dominated drink, is quickly becoming something completely different. Every day we’re seeing more and more women brewers and beer drinkers. But it’s not just recently that women are making an impact in this space. Since the beginning of beer, women have played a massive part. In fact, if it wasn’t for women, we might have never had beer in the first place. To find out more about the part that women played in the history of beer, click here. (http://www.sab.co.za/beer-culture/womens-day-campaign/) To celebrate women in beer, a day has been set aside to unify the women brewers of the world. Introducing International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day.

International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day?

IWCBD started in the USA in 2014 when 60 brewsters from around the world decided to brew the same craft beer at the same time. The date of the IWCBD coincides with International Women’s Day on March 8^th. The aim of the day is for women who are passionate about beer to get together and brew while forming a strong network of women brewers. 2016 was the first year it came to South Africa, in Cape Town and Johannesburg, and it was a great success. “On this day women across the globe, from all walks of life celebrate their achievements and diversity. Women within the brewing industry celebrate by organising a collaboration brew, which takes place simultaneously across the globe. I thought it would be a great idea to start a South African version of this world-wide event to get ladies in the brewing industry together to socialise and network.” Said Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, the Johannesburg group leader.

2017 will be bigger and better!

In South Africa, the brewing events will take place on 11 March, to accommodate those who cannot make the 8^th because of work commitments. The theme for this year will be “Promoting responsible drinking”. In Cape Town, ladies will come together at the Afro Caribbean Brewing Company in Kenilworth, to brew a 200-litre batch of African Queen Blonde Ale. It will be led by Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela of Brewhogs and Megan Gemmell of Clockwork Brewhouse. Lucy Corne will also be running a beer tasting sponsored by League of Beers. In Johannesburg, the ladies will be led by Thandi Guilherme and Michelle Erasmus in the brewing of a smaller batch of the exact same beer, at BrewCraft, a homebrew store in Jet Park.

On the day

The event will see some incredible ladies from the beer industry come together for a full day of learning, networking and socialising. There will be brewing talks and discussions, food and beer pairings, beer tasting and loads of fun. And in the end, all proceedings from the event and beer sales will be donated to charity.