Welcome to GAB (Girls for the Advancement of Beer). Spreading the love of Craft Beer through Knowledge and Education.

Well hello there!  Welcome to GAB.  This is my first foray into the world of blogging for personal interest, so I hope it’s enjoyable! The focus of this blog is centered around beer (obviously) and specifically beer for women who enjoy beer.  Or women who don’t enjoy beer.  Or women who don’t know they enjoy beer yet.

This is by no means the first blog of its kind.  In fact there are many tremendous blogs already in existence by some really talented women who love beer and want to spread the good word.  This is simply my take on the craft beer revolution, and the part played by the female component, as observed through my position in the industry.  Hopefully it’ll spark some interest and discussion as well.

I’m lucky enough to be employed at what is, in my opinion, a fantastic small craft brewery.  While my responsibilities can sometimes vary, my main position there is in the tasting room serving our patrons.  I’ve also had the pleasure of working at a pretty amazing craft beer bar in the past.  

Serving is something I truly enjoy because of the interaction with the beer-loving community that it’s afforded me.  In my time doing this I’ve been exposed to new experiences, fascinating people, and of course, some damn tasty beers. 

In our tasting room now, and in my previous position at a craft beer bar, spending my weekends discussing and dissecting delicious craft brews with fellow beer geeks has not only been a blast but it’s been enlightening as well. One of the things I’ve noticed since day one, however, has been the obvious and staggering dominance of the male gender in attendance at these establishments. 

That’s not to say it’s a boy’s only club by any means, but there are times when the women who are present tell me they’re “putting up” with this stop for their husband’s sake.  

Or perhaps they really enjoy the atmosphere and think that it’s a cool experience, but alas, they don’t really drink beer (or occasionally I’m told they downright hate beer), so they’ll take whatever is lightest on the menu and hang out with their friends.  

a sparkling tribute to these women's loathing

Now, my position has given me the opportunity to be a disciple of craft beer, and more importantly an advocate.  So when a scenario like this arises, I try to be more of an educator than a salesperson.  Since they’ve made it to our establishment, we would certainly like them to have an enjoyable experience, so I make an effort to find them something they will enjoy, and not just tolerate because it’s the “lightest” option. 

I start by asking what they usually drink.  Finding a flavor parallel is key to finding the right beer.  Believe me, it’s there – even for drinks you may not imagine it would be.

Espresso martini?  Try enjoying the roasty, coffee flavors of a dark beer brewed with roasted malt.  The right beer will align with their taste for coffee, and the rich, malty taste can satisfy the sweetness they might be looking for when choosing that particular martini.

“Dark beers are too heavy,” they may say. 

Ok, there is a dirty rumor running rampant throughout this country that dark beers are “heavy.”

Lies, I say!!

Sure, some of them, like say, an imperial stout, may be rich, decadent drinks that can certainly feel like a meal.  However, generally speaking, that is a false statement.  It simply means that the beer is brewed with roasted or dark malt, or dark sugars. Please make a note: color does not equal consistency!

Luckily, they don’t have to take my word for it; I can give them a sample of one of the darker beers we have on draft. 

A sip.  A moment.  A pensive look, and – eureka!!!  She can’t believe it.  A beer she actually likes. 

I pour her a pint and revel in the knowledge that I was just able to help get a craft beer into a hand that no craft beer has ever gone before.  Ah, this is why I love my job.

The whole point of my rant is this: I love beer.  I believe that anyone can love beer as much as I do.  It’s all a matter of finding the right beer.  Of introducing new and different styles to one’s palate at the right pace and for the right reasons. 

The beauty of beer is that there are so many flavors out there, there’s bound to be something for everyone.

I have to say I’ve never heard anyone, female or otherwise, tell me that they love a macro lager (i.e. huge brands Homer Simpson would probably love that may rhyme with “mud”, “tours”, or “filler”) because of the taste.  Instead, I’m told that it’s easy to drink, or it’s not offensive, or it’s not filling, or it has less calories (also not always true by the way, but more about that another time).

There are hundreds of styles of beer.  There are whole schools dedicated to understanding the intricacies and the vast amount of knowledge needed to fully understand beer. 

I am by no means an expert.  Instead, I try to be a student of craft beer, and I’m learning new things every day.  One of the things I love about this industry is the propensity to share, so that’s what I intend to do: share what I learn with you.

I’ll try to keep my posts much shorter and easier to digest than this one!  Just wanted to give a good introduction to what you might find here. 

Also, I wouldn’t expect every post to be pointed at a specifically female audience.  Instead, I’ll be commenting mostly on general beer-related topics through a female’s eyes.  I’ll try to fill you in on great beers that are worth going out and finding, different styles of beers, great places to go drink beer (and eat great food, which by the way is my other love), and more.

Please email me with any of your own beer stories or topics you’d like to discuss.  Remember, craft beer is a community, and we’re all a part of it!  I look forward to sharing a passion for beer with you and hope you  join GAB in helping to bring great beer to girls everywhere!