Ohio to Celebrate Women in Craft Beer at Inaugural Summit

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio Craft Brewers Association is holding a first-of-its-kind event to raise awareness of the impact women have made on the state’s craft brewing industry. Eclipsing Stereotypes: Women Shine in Ohio Craft Beer, the association’s inaugural women’s summit, will take place on Sunday, April 7 from 2-5 p.m. at Seventh Son Brewing in Columbus.

The summit is intended to be an interactive, intersectional and inclusive event for women and femme folks working in or interested in joining the craft brewing industry. Amy Mast of Craft Leadership will moderate a panel discussion, shining a spotlight on women in the industry and bringing awareness to opportunities that exist for women in craft beer. Panelists include Hannah Kent, head brewer at Urban Artifact in Cincinnati; Aspasia Lyras-Bernacki, co-owner of Penguin City Brewing Company in Youngstown; Jaime Sipps, operations and community manager at HiHO Brewing Company in Cuyahoga Falls; and Jenn Suitt, head brewer at Homestead Beer Company in Gahanna.

Women from Ohio breweries gather each year to create special beers to commemorate International Women’s Day, and more than a dozen of those will be on tap at the summit. The beers range in styles and include experimental light beers, traditional farmhouse-style ales, IPAs brewed with the annual Pink Boots fundraising hop blend from Yakima Chief Hops, and more. All attendees will receive a commemorative event glass and tasting tickets for 10 four-ounce samples.

In addition to the craft beer and industry networking, the summit will host women-owned businesses, makers and creatives, including food trucks and DJs to entertain the crowd during the event. There will also be a make-your-own friendship bracelet station so attendees can take home a personalized souvenir.

“Unlike the solar eclipse that will happen shortly after our summit, women make an impact on the world of craft beer every day,” said Mary MacDonald, executive director of the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. “Women still make up a disproportionately small percentage of the brewing industry workforce, especially in production, but opportunities are on the rise for women with the drive to brew beer professionally or open their own breweries.”

Tickets are available in advance for $35 each and $45 at the door on the day of the event. Current brewing industry members can purchase tickets for $30 in advance with a discount code provided by the Ohio Craft Brewers Association. Industry ticket holders are invited to a mixer starting at noon prior to the summit.

Eclipsing Stereotypes: Women Shine in Craft Beer is a fundraiser for the Ohio Craft Brewers Association’s forthcoming brewing scholarship program to benefit students from communities underrepresented in the industry. The summit is sponsored by the Brewers Association, Olentangy River Brewing Company, The Phoenix Brewing Company, Rhinegeist, Seventh Son Brewing, Thunderwing Brewing, Upside Brewing and Wolf’s Ridge Brewing.

More event info available at https://ohiocraftbeer.org/womenssummit

Founded in 2008, the Ohio Craft Brewers Association is a nonprofit guild that exists to promote, preserve and unify Ohio’s craft brewing industry. We aspire to be recognized as the industry leader at both state and national levels for preserving the art of making high-quality, unique craft beer; to serve as the unified voice for craft brewers across the state; to advocate on behalf of the Ohio craft beer industry; to contribute to systemic, local community development by driving economic and job growth, while creating experiences that bring people together; to promote safe, responsible enjoyment of Ohio craft beer; and to serve as a beacon for local production and manufacturing through craft beer, resulting in diverse choices for consumers.