As a beer loving girl, I’ve often wondered why ultra fem ladies see a pint of beer as less glam than a glass of bubbles. What’s with the stigma around such a delicious beverage? And why does beer usually seem to be marketed towards men?
When I delved into the history of beer, I was surprised to learn it was pioneered by women. Back in ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, the female masterminds behind brewing did their thing under the watchful eye of beer goddess Ninkasi. In Norse society and Medieval England, amazing women known as ‘brewsters’ and ‘alewives’ kept the hops flowing freely in homes, inns, and businesses.
Fast forward to now and you’d struggle to find women leading any major UK brewery. We can partly blame this shift on industrialisation. The rise of big machines and bulkier processes saw large-scale brewing rebranded as a ‘guy thing’ and women got nudged out of the beer scene.
In a society where women were once brewing powerhouses, it's mind-boggling how we arrived at the stereotype that says beer is all about the boys. The graphic images I’ve created were influenced by traditional illustrated alcohol posters for conventionally ‘girly’ drinks, like champagne and Martinis. My contemporary twist is to bring beer back into a modern girl’s world. Because BEER IS FOR GIRLS.