Women in Beer, the Scottish ‘women who beer’ community, has announced dates for its third Festival in Edinburgh, with five days of events celebrating women in the brewing industry set to run from Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 October 2024.
First held in 2019, this year’s Women in Beer Festival promises to be the largest to date, with a busy programme of learning and training opportunities, networking and community sessions, and tap-takeovers showcasing women who work in the beer industry.
This year’s festival will start on Wednesday 23 October with a welcome party at Cold Town House in Edinburgh, before two days of training and conference events taking place at The Port of Leith Distillery.
Events will include sensory training led by Lallemand Brewing, and a half-day seminar with panel discussions and talks hosted by women. The festival will also host a WSET qualification certification for the mentees part of the Women in Beer Mentorship Programme.
Women in Beer founder Amélie Tassin said: “I started Women in Beer as a way of celebrating women who enjoy good beer and good company, and to support women working in the brewing industry with a community and training opportunities.
“An industry survey in 2023 found that only 30% of the brewing industry identified as women, with only 3% of those being brewers. Women in Beer exists to challenge that statistic, providing support and opportunities for women to meet and discuss the industry and enjoy good beer together.”
There will be elements of the festival happening across Edinburgh, as Women in Beer partners with pubs and bars to showcase a selection of the best beers owned or brewed by women with a series of tap-takeovers.
The Women in Beer Big Meetup will return to the Stockbridge Tap on Saturday 26 October to officially launch the festival’s special collaboration beers, brewed by Cold Town (Edinburgh); Holy Goat Brewing (Dundee); Jump Ship Brewing (Midlothian); and Round Corner Brewing (Melton Mowbray).
Tassin added: “It’s important for us to make sure we can raise awareness with as many people as possible and not only the ones who would buy a beer festival ticket.
“Teaming up with pubs and bars around Edinburgh allow us to reach people who might have not known that women can also be behind their favourite drinks. Brewing collaboration beers is also a way for us to show we exist and for our members to come and experience a real brew day.”
