MANSFIELD — The folks at the Phoenix Brewing Company are thrilled to have a chance to collaborate again.
The craft brewery in Mansfield will welcome women from 12 breweries and organizations from across central and northern Ohio on Tuesday, Feb. 1, to brew a collaboration beer.
Carmona Macfarlane, the director of social engagement for The Phoenix, said International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day originally originated to celebrate women in the brewing industry and to embrace the spirit of International Women’s Day.
Both days are recognized on March 8, but the Tuesday gathering means the celebration is starting a little early.
“The last few years have been difficult to participate in a group brew day with health concerns, supply disruptions, and scheduling,” said Macfarlane, who heads up the Phoenix creative, marketing and education efforts.
“This year it started out as a conversation about missing the collaborative brew process,” she said.
“We were able to shift our brewing schedule and offered to host. Then we opened it up to other breweries across Ohio,” Macfarlane said.
“We are just really excited to have the opportunity to collaborate again,” she said.
Her husband, Phoenix Brewing head brewer Duncan Macfarlane, said he’s pleased to share the facility as 131 N. Diamond St.
“It is always good to have guest brewers. This is what is unique about the brewing industry, the coming together to share ideas. I am honored to have these ladies in my brewery and look forward to learning from them,” he said.
Carmone Macfarlane said the last large-scale women’s collaboration in the area was in 2019 at Outerbelt Brewing in Carroll, Ohio, when more than 40 women came together to brew a hazy IPA.
But then the COVID-19 shutdown happened and the beer never made it to taps, she said.
Macfarlane said the group on Tuesday have chosen to brew a traditional Saison this year.
“Saisons are often referred to as farmhouse ales. They are flavorful, light, and effervescent. They typically have fruity and citrusy aromas and light peppery notes from the yeast, with floral hop aromas, and light malt flavor,” she said.
The beer, not yet named, will be released across their taprooms and limited availability of 16 oz cans, on March 8 to commemorate International Women’s Day and International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day.
“Many of the women attending Tuesday have extensive brewing and cellaring experience and some are just starting out,” she said.
“The women also fill vital roles in the craft beer industry in marketing, sales and distribution, creative, advocacy, and taprooms. A few of the ladies are Certified Beer Servers, some are working on their Cicerone certifications and adjudicate at professional beer competitions,” Macfarlane said.
She said some are members of Pink Boots Society, a scholarship organization that provides educational opportunities for women in craft beer.
Local chapters include Columbus and Cincinnati, and they support women in a traditionally male-dominated field. Their motto is: “We are here to ASSIST, INSPIRE, and ENCOURAGE women in the fermented/alcoholic beverage profession through EDUCATION.”
For the last five years, the Pink Boot Society has released a special blend of hops available for women’s collaboration brew days.
Lori Wince, co-owner and assistant brewer from Weasel Boy Brewing in Zanesville, Ohio, said it’s good to see more women involved in the craft beer industry and learning about their journey from another profession.
“When I first joined the Pink Boots Society in 2008, there were fewer women in the industry and not many of them were in Ohio,” Wince said.
“As Ohio’s craft beer offerings grew, so did the number of women I would run into at breweries and Ohio now has women serving in very important positions in the state’s brewing industry. It’s a wonderful time to be a brewer in Ohio,” Wince said.
Mary Macdonald, executive director of the Ohio Craft Brewer’s Association will also be participating in the brew day. The Ohio Craft Brewer’s Association works to unify the Ohio Brewing community and promote Ohio’s strong beer industry.
Three of the women brewing also serve on the board of the Ohio Craft Brewer’s Association: Melissa Dallas from Upside Brewing in Sylvania Ohio, Ali Hovan from HiHo Brewing in Cuyahoga Falls, and Macfarlane.
Participants scheduled to participate include:
— Mary MacDonald, OCBA
— Lori Wince, Weasel Boy Brewing Company-Zanesville, Ohio
— Jennifer Herman, Belltower Brewing Co. -Kent, Ohio
— Ali Hovan, HiHo Brewing Co.- Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio
— Melissa Dallas, Upside Brewing-Sylvania, Ohio
— Emma Jones, Nocterra Brewing Co.- Powell, Ohio
— Andrea Wertz, Nocterra Brewing Co.- Powell, Ohio
— Jamie Cadle, Walking Distance Brewery- Marysville, Ohio
— Kristin Ream, Trek Brewing- Newark, Ohio
— Veronica Bagley, Great Lakes Brewing Company,- Cleveland, Ohio
— Bethany Reid Schweitzer, Olentangy Brew Company, Lewis Center, Ohio
— Erin Campbell, Outerbelt Brewing-Carroll, Ohio
Schedule of Day:
8:30 am to 9:30 am-Welcome and Beer naming
9:30 am: Graining In (beginning the brewing process)
11:30 am: Graining Out and beginning the Boil
2:00 pm: Transfer of beer
3:00 pm beginning clean up
For information on the Pink Boot Society: https://www.pinkbootssociety.org/
For the history of International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day, please go to: https://unitebrew.org/
For information over the Ohio Craft Brewer’s Association: https://ohiocraftbeer.org/
About The Phoenix Brewing Company®: Founded by local beer enthusiasts looking to bring a craft beer revival to Mansfield, The Phoenix Brewing Company took flight in April 2014 in a restored 1914 mortuary and funeral home near the original pre-prohibition brewery district.
The partners have combined their love of craft beer and over 30 years of brewing experience to create an authentic pub experience filled with quality craft beer and live music. The beers are inspired by the history of the building itself and local legends from the Mansfield area.
