In ancient Europe, brewing was almost exclusively a woman’s role. The medieval times, however, brought about the frequency of brewing in monasteries to accommodate travelers, and as time passed, the number of female brewers dwindled, brewing in the home became rare, and commercial taverns became a predominantly male domain. Today, while women have since shed the label of “alewives,” they are continuing to infiltrate what has since become an XY-dominated scene by owning and running breweries. Today, Peaks and Pints celebrates International Women’s Day with craft beer’s female brewers in our Saturday beer flight, Peaks & Pints Beer Flight: International Women’s Day.

Peaks & Pints Beer Flight: International Women’s Day

Chuckanut Kölsch German Ale

4.5% ABV

In 1984, chemical engineer and homebrewer Will Kemper and his culinary crackerjack wife Mari left Boulder, Colorado, opened Thomas Kemper Brewery on Bainbridge Island, Washington, and quickly moved it to Poulsbo. In 1992, Thomas Kemper merged with Hart Brewing, which became Pyramid Breweries. The Kempers signed a non-compete and left to become consultants with East Coast and international breweries. The Kempers took their non-compete and helped build the craft beer scene in North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Washington DC, Mexico, and Turkey. After traveling, they moved to Bellingham, where they opened Chuckanut Brewery in 2008. This convergence of technical and engineering concepts developed from more than two decades of professional involvement with craft brewing at home and abroad. They hired Josh Pfriem as their head brewer, and later, Kevin Davey grabbed the head brewer paddle. In late 2016, Chuckanut launched a new 40-barrel production facility, Chuckanut South Nut, in Burlington. They closed Bellingham in mid-October 2021. Chuckanut Kölsch German Ale maintains a restrained bitterness, although the palate is light-bodied and bone-dry. A soft malt flavor in the center gives way to a drying, slightly acidic finish. The flavor is big and full, bready, and crisp, with a nice bite at the finish.

Heater Allen Pils

5% ABV

Beer is a family business for Heater Allen, a lager brewery that opened in McMinnville, Oregon, in 2007. “Heater” is Rick’s wife Jan’s maiden name, and “Allen” is his last name. He figures that you should always give your wife first billing. While Rick has little German heritage on his side of the family, most of Jan’s family is of German descent. Their daughter, Lisa, who works for the brewery, is a true Heater Allen. In 2009, Lisa left a career in the wine industry to join her dad’s two-man crew. Since Lisa came on the scene, Heater Allen has grown from a six-barrel to a 15-barrel brewhouse. In November 2022, Lisa and her partner, Kevin Davey, the founding brewmaster at Wayfinder Beer, purchased a majority share of Heater Allen from Rick and, in March 2023, announced the launch of their brand, Gold Dot Beer. Lisa and Kevin continue to make Heater Allen beers. Their pilsner is their take on the renowned Bohemian-style pale lager that you might find in Bavaria or the Czech Republic. Heater Allen’s version is a little more golden, rounder, and malt-driven than many others. The beer has a strong hop character balanced by its rich, round, malty palate.

Bow & Arrow Scenic West

6.5% ABV

Bow & Arrow Brewing was founded in 2016 by Shyla Sheppard and Missy Begay, two Native American women who are also life partners. Opening a Native American, queer, women-owned brewery was monumental; nobody else had done it yet. Sheppard and Begay have turned Bow & Arrow into a brand that uplifts others in Indigenous communities. Sheppard and Begay met while attending Stanford University. An avid homebrewer and former social impact investor, Sheppard was raised in North Dakota’s Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation and acts as the brewery’s president and CEO. Her other half, Begay, a full-time medical practitioner, was raised in New Mexico’s Navajo (Diné) Nation and, as creative director, leads their branding, marketing, and design development. Scenic West captures the spirit of the rugged mesas and welcoming solitude Bow & Arrow calls home. Simple yet enchanting, with a wild bouquet of El Dorado, Simcoe, Citra, and Mosaic hops, this hazy IPA is thirst-quenching light desert dank with ripe citrus notes.

Stoup Disco Mullet

6.6% ABV

Scientist Brad Benson and foodie Lara Zahaba opened Stoup Brewing in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood in 2013. Washington state’s first female Cicerone, Robyn Schumacher, became Stoup’s third partner, assisting Benson in the brewing room. Schumacher started her career as a high school biology teacher. Still, after 13 years in the classroom, her dreams of becoming a professional brewer and her lifelong passion for great beer and unstoppable homebrewing skills came true when she helped open Stoup. Her dark and malty Disco Mullet Cascadian dark ale is brewed with loads of Northwest hops, including a hefty helping of Columbus and Cascade Cryo to bring on the old-school dank. It will satisfy malt and hop lovers with some IPA business up front and a porter party in the back.

E9 Brewing Emma’s BBA Stout

6.4% ABV

For Tacoma Beer Week 2024, E9 Brewing released Harpua Stout, a milk stout brewed with Emma Hibbs from the world-famous Browns Point Homebrew Club and brewer Amber Machado, who has been brewing at E9 since 2021. Hibbs and E9 won “Best on Show” and “Crowd Favorite” at the TBW ProAm Competition. A year later, aged in bourbon barrels for 7 months, Harpua is now Emma’s BA Stout.

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