Craft beer lacks space for women as beer professionals

The production and consumption venues of beer are often viewed as masculine domains. By looking at the British craft beer industry, this study evaluates women’s experiences in beer spaces and initiatives to increase inclusion. Focused ethnography is used to record observations of women’s beer events in pubs, breweries and beer festivals, and 32 in-depth interviews with women who participate in gender equality initiatives in the industry. The analysis of the data suggests that beer spaces are often not experienced as inclusive, as there is perceived to be only little space for women in the beer scene, especially as professionals with expertise in brewing. Women in craft beer actively organise initiatives to increase inclusion but gender stereotypes persist, and change is slow.