Women, Witches, and Brew Masters
What do witches have to do with beer?
Some argue the depiction of witches we know today originated from the pointy-hatted, cauldron-toting women brew masters of the Middle Ages and Renaissance. After Reformation began, the traditional brewers of beer, women, were accused of brewing potions and not beer, subsequently creating a dangerous atmosphere. Women brewers were pushed out of the industry and into stricter gender roles; including housework and child rearing. It was no longer socially acceptable for a beer brewer to be a woman.
Today’s climate around beer making is much less divisive, but there’s still more work to be done. Let’s celebrate Women’s History Month with a cheers to the women brewers of our past and drink some local beer to commemorate today’s women in the beer industry.
