A Woman’s Brew

Who are the pioneers of the craft beer scene? Inspired by Vine Pair’s article ‘The Mount Rushmore of Craft Breweries” we embark on a spirited discussion about the UK craft breweries that have carved a significant niche in the beer landscape. We share our personal picks for a UK "Mount Rushmore" of craft breweries, with Jo highlighting Thornbridge, Cloudwater, The Kernel, and Verdant for their inno...

We are now at the end of the 3rd quarter of the year and we endeavour not to say ‘hasn’t the time gone quickly’! Instead, we share with you updates to our beer goals – they are going pretty well and Tori has a spreadsheet to prove it! We also check in on our Drink Harder challenge and let you know the episodes of the podcast you’ve loved this quarter. We chat beer styles, fruit in beer and salmon...

It’s our 4th birthday! Thank you for sticking with us for 4 whole years! To celebrate, we have a beery afternoon tea with the full works – sandwiches, scones, cake and Colin the Caterpillar…. Can you guess which beer we paired with that?! You will have to listen to find out! We also play the Newlywed Game – do we know our bestie as well as we think? And we’ve got a few podcast stats to wow you wit...

Following on from our German Pils episode, we bring you the Italian Pils next in our lager series. Italian Pils is not listed in the BJCP or Brewers Association guidelines so bring you tasting notes, it’s history and a few fun facts. In this episode we tried: Gallo Pils by Roosters Pastel Pils by Siren Campagnol by La Source Have you got a favourite Italian Pils you can recommend us? Check out the...

In this episode, we’re immersing ourselves in the spirited tradition of holiday beers with a lively discussion on the necessity and culture of pre-holiday brews. Inspired by the recent collaboration between package holiday provider On The Beach and Seven Brothers Brewing, we pair their beer, Breakfast Brew with breakfast sandwiches – are they actually the perfect pairing? As well as investigating...

It’s been a while since we’ve talked exclusively about non-alcoholic beer options. With Guinness 0 making such an impact recently, we thought it was time to give you a bit more insight into non-alcoholic stouts, exploring both the opportunities and challenges faced by big brewers and small craft beer producers alike. Larger companies like Guinness have harnessed their resources to master the art o...

Do you German Pilsner? We are continuing our Lager series with a classic this time. But was it this style that put Jo off lagers? As usual we hit you with the style guidelines and history, but we also give you some ‘horrifically untrue facts’ as well! Our German Pilsner examples were: Augustiner Pils Flensburger Pilsener Riba by Garage What’s your favourite type of pilsner? Let us know! Check out...

We know you love hearing us chat, so this week we bring back the topic jar and answer some burning questions. Would you rather go to a consistent brewery with only a limited amount of styles or a brewery with more styles but their quality could be hit or miss? What do you do if someone wants to go to Spoons or Brewdog? What are your craft beer red flags – this was a great one and we’ve put the que...

This week we dive into the intricate world of Gueuze—a complex and traditional Belgian beer. We'll cover everything from the meticulous cork removal process to the distinct appearances, aromas, and flavours of their chosen versions. Together, they compare the carbonation, foam, and colour of their drinks, and explore the layers of tartness, dryness, and fruity funk that make these beers so unique....

We are bringing the world of pure imagination this week when we introduce you to David Nilsen’s book Pairing Beer and Chocolate: A Guide to Bringing the Flavours of Craft Beer and Craft Chocolate Together. David very kindly sent us a copy of his book and we picked some pairings to share with you. We pair chocolate with a hoppy pale ale, a pumpkin spice ale (obvs!), a non alcoholic sour and a Fland...

We are showcasing one of Jo’s fave beer styles for this edition of our lager series – Vienna lager. In fact, it’s the style that got her into beer! Tori’s more of a Marzen fan, but each to their own. Looking at the history of Vienna lager, we meet our old friends Anton Dreher and Gabriel Sadlmayer (those thieving brewers with their walking sticks), find out who brews better – head brewers or ghost...

We’ve got another cocktail inspired beer episode for you! This time we bring you Amaretto Sour, which Jo and Tori are in love with. As per usual, we bring you a touch of history, some fun facts and how you can make your own. There are a bunch of tasty variations to try too! We also give thanks to our robots overlords and ask Chat GTP to create us beer cocktail versions of an Amaretto Sour. Tori tr...

This week we are beating the burnout and having a chat about our upcoming plans and topics picked by you, the listener! We introduce our topics jar – we’ll pick random questions from the jar and attempt to answer them. This is an ask us anything opportunity – and apparently not just about beer! Would you rather have a wifi brain or a time traveling finger? Would you rather only order pints or alwa...

Said in very British voice: ‘where has that time gone?!’ We are already half way through the year and checking in on our 2024 beer goals. We both think we’ve done alright so far, Tori is working on hard mode (obvs) while Jo is reviewing and refining her goals – mid year is the best time for this! We also look at how far we’ve got with our Drink Harder challenge and, once again, debate what constit...

It’s our 200th episode!!! If this is your 1st episode with us or your 200th, thank you for being on this journey with us! We’ll look back at our top episodes, run through a bit of our history and introduce you to some new Chat GTP beer cocktails to celebrate! We talk about our journey and what beer we think represents the podcast (it’s pumpkin spice, obvs!) What has been your favourite episode so...

In this episode of our lager series we are diving into the effervescent world of American light lagers, shining a spotlight on their unique place in beer culture. Alongside giving you tasting notes, we navigate the fascinating history and marketing strategies that have propelled these beverages into the hearts and hands of many… if not those of us craft beer lovers! Tori grabbed us a Miller Lite w...

This week, we're diving into the challenges and opportunities for women in the beer industry and community with the thought-provoking findings from The Gender Pint Gap: Revisited report by Dea Latis. Using the report as a starting point, we'll explore the ten challenges and nine opportunities it highlights, addressing critical aspects such as the need for gender-neutral marketing, inclusive spaces...

Our lager series continues this week with the lesser known Dortmunder Export. We have examples from Lost & Grounded, Exhale and Culmination Brewing and take you through what you should expect from this classic style. We won't just stop with the tasting notes, though. We’ll also be your guides through the optimal glassware and serving temperatures to ensure you get the best out of each pour and...

We’ve been talking about it for ages, so here it finally is – our first book club episode and we’re reading Girly Drinks by Mallory O’Meara which dives into the fascinating intersection of beer, history, and powerful women. Join us as we unravel historical narratives, challenge gender stereotypes, and celebrate the unsung heroines of the alcohol industry. From Cleopatra's controversial portrayal t...

Here at A Woman’s Brew, it’s always Pumpkin Spice season! We missed our pumpkin episode last autumn, but we have finally got round to trying our selection of pumpkin spiced beers for you now. From the aroma reminiscent of freshly roasted coffee with a hint of warming spices, to the unexpected flavour profiles that these unique beers deliver, we'll leave no pumpkin unexplored. As we savour each sip...

How do you feel about beer flights? Here at A Woman’s Brew both Tori and Jo are big advocates for beer flights - both for beer choices, pour size and beer education. But there is a debate going on as to whether a beer flight works for breweries and taprooms – does it slow down service? Not give the best representation of the beer? Or maybe there isn’t enough space for glass storage? We look throug...

This week, Tori and Rik take us on a journey through their recent trip to Brussels, focusing on their fascinating tour at Cantillon Brewery. They'll compare this unique experience to other brewery tours they've been on, highlighting the complexities and history of lambic brewing in Brussels. Beyond the brewery, they'll recount their adventures in the city—from discovering hidden gems like La Sourc...

Back by popular demand (if you don’t listen to Tori!), Rik joins Tori to talk about their recent Belgian excursion to the Toer De Geuze where tradition meets the bubbling excitement of craft brewing. They embraced the unique opportunity to peek behind the curtains of some of Belgium's most revered Lambic breweries and blenders. But! Navigating this event, that only happens every two years, can be...

This episode takes a unique spin as we explore the landscape of top-rated beers, sipping our way through Julius by Treehouse and some of it’s variants. We'll navigate the world of exceptional beers, discussing the finer points that elevate a beer to "top-rated" status. Tori shares her experiences of visiting Treehouse while she was in the US and Jo walks you through her Try All The Beers blog seri...

This week, we're embarking on a flavourful journey south of the border to explore the enigmatic world of Mexican lagers. But do we once again have more questions than answers? We contrast craft enthusiasms with macro lager charm and question how a slice of lime became synonymous with a whole genre of beer. From the Austrian-brewed history of the Vienna lager's Mexican adventures to the European an...