Beer and Women
Women have always played a key role in beer making. Indeed ancient Sumerians have the earliest written record mentioning beer, and in all likelihood it was women who were probably the first to brew beer.
Beer at that time would have been unlike any we will ever (thankfully) see or taste! By all accounts, it would have tasted along the line of malted porridge of some sort and was in all probability a much strong level of alcohol.
The high nutrition value within the beer was akin to a form of liquid bread and was a meal by itself. Who knew what led them to first ‘brew’ grain? Maybe it was a case of grain being left a damp place and nature did the rest?
Through the ages, women have brewed the beer at home selling it for a small income whilst keeping some back for their family. In African tribal history women are the main brewers of beer, giving them a lot of power within their tribe and the knowledge is sacred and passed down to their daughters.
In the middle ages, beer was consumed more than water for health reasons alone! The water was unsafe to drink, thus making beer the ‘way of life’ for most, if not all families.
The Beauty of the Beer Advert
Women have been in the forefront for many years now as the ‘beauty’ behind the car and beer advertisements. It’s certainly not unusual even today, to find then draped over the bonnet of the latest car model, wearing just enough to cover their vanity.
Some publicans are only too happy to have their barmaids wear low cut tops showing generous cleavages and busting out all over, in the believe that the men will not ‘stray’ to other pubs and drink more beer. While the ‘little lady’ sat in the snug and had her gin and tonic or martini! Thankfully bars have changed dramatically over the last century and no longer cater just for men.
Advertising campaigns have changed their method in showing that women can certainly hold their own in the knowledge of beer, know what they want and realise that the days of beer being classed as a masculine drink has gone. These are no longer aimed at men with whippets sitting in a smoky room, indeed the role seems to have been reversed and men and women are now shown equally happy and content in the pub, although at times, it shows the women in the pub while the men are at home cooking the Sunday lunch!
Women Are Returning to the Beer
Today, more women are returning to drinking beer, and the stereotype notion that beer drinking is within the ale domain is diminishing to the point that even ‘beer glasses’ aimed at women have been introduced. Although German pubs have been using these types of glasses for many years, they have now finally made their way to the UK.
This indeed is one of the reason I did not drank beer myself! While on holiday though, it was one of the only times I really enjoyed a cold frosty glass of beer. A pint for him, and a half for me, because the pint glasses where big and chunky and really not at all ladylike! That was until it hit me that while my glass had been drained (well I was thirsty and it was cold), his was still sitting there half full!!! Said to myself back then, that it was about time they made glasses for women.
Women are not only drinking a lot more beer, but many have returned to brewing their own and the choice of beers and ales offered by the market is growing, as is the enjoyment and satisfaction that can be felt from each new batch when ready to drink.
With the introduction of flavoured beers aimed at women, glasses that don’t make you feel like a docker with bovver boots on, and the fact that beer contains no fat or sugar and has less calories ounce for ounce than wine or alcopops, it’s no surprise that more women are now returning to beer drinking