Women, Craft Beer and the Beer Diva

Historical • Media Release • 12 Oct 2012

Did those last two words in the title intrigue you? Everything in that title is relevant especially The Beer Diva.

Yes women are into craft beer. It’s a fact that this topic is hot! Local Beer Ambassadors Kieran Blood and Michael Ward, organisers of the Great Australian Beer Festival, say the craft beer movement is being heavily influenced by women who are shedding some of the old stereotypes about beer, including those surrounding women and beer.

As the landscape continues to change from just a few short years ago, with sales of major brands falling and dozens of new craft beers appearing, so has the relationship between women and beer.

Unlike years gone by, today we see women setting up their own breweries, brewing their own beer, operating beer bars, educating people on it and drinking it in greater numbers.

With this in mind the Ambassadors have invited Australia’s first lady of beer, Kirrily Waldhorn aka Beer Diva, to be guest presenter and judge at their inaugural summer beer tasting festival at Geelong racecourse next February.

Kirrily is a beer educator, consultant, writer and judge who has an enormous passion for beer. She is on a mission to make beer the new wine and to educate Australians about the benefits of pouring a fine brew – not a fine drop – at the dinner table.

She is not your stereotypical beer presenter. She has appeared on radio, TV and in the press talking about everything from the ancient history of beer to beer gastronomy and busting beer myths. She is the beer writer for the Herald Sun and former Editor of Beer & Brewer magazine.Kirrily is also a beer judge and was invited to London to judge the Champion Beer of Britain and speak at The Great British Beer Festival.

Not content to rest on her laurels Kirrily continues to win over many foodies, sophisticates and women to the complexities and diverse styles of beer.She also heads up the Australian arm of Barley’s Angels, an international organisation aimed at encouraging more women to appreciate good beer. She recently completed a 7-show run of ‘Beer Diva – Beer is proof that God wants us to be happy’, at The Sydney Opera House.

“The reality is that despite its growth in recent years beer is still misunderstood”, Kirrily said.

“The extraordinary complexities and diverse styles that beer can offer are often unappreciated, whilst we happily muse on the lexicon ofwine.”

“Beer is often perceived as the domain of overweight, aggressive, bearded, belching, football-loving men.Not an image that is likely to sway foodies, sophisticates and women towards wider experimentation and adoption.”

“Prejudices and stereotypes surrounding this nectar continue to unjustly prevail.It’s time to tear down the wall of misconception!” shesaid.

With over 20 years in hospitality, festival Director Mr Blood said he now sees many restaurants working to learn about beer and include it in their menus, pairing dinners and to give it the respect it deserves.

“The diversity of beer styles, strengths, and flavours available to craft beer consumers is staggering. Australia has some of the best beer in the world – Beer is, after all, an intrinsic part of Australian culture” he said.

To celebrate women and craft beer, festival organisers have a range of activities planned including an early bird incentive where all festival tickets purchased prior to 26th October go into a draw to win a bar fridge stocked with either craft beer or Flying Brick Cider.

They are also having a Cupcakes & Craft Beer seminar at the recently renovated and licensed Dish cafe on Friday November 9th.

“Imagine the unique pairing of a delicious Java Chocolate and Coffee cupcake with a Southern Bay Porter or a Marmalade Orange cupcake with a Prickly Moses wheat beer? These are just a taste of what’s on offer at Geelong’s first ever Cupcakes & Craft Beer event”, Mr Blood said.

Seminar host, Beer Girl Bites and Barley Angel, Tiffany Waldron will pair up to 5 craft beers from local brewers with a variety of scrumptious mini cupcakes baked fresh at Dish cafe. Meet the creators of these tasty works of art, and some of the local brewers who will be gracing us with their knowledge and expertise.