Pirate Queens rock the bar
Bríd’s Cross Brewing joined with Women of Whitworth charity to brew this year’s International Women’s Day beer Pirate Queen, a 4% Hazy Pale. The beer launched at The Baum on Saturday 8 March and didn’t hang around long.
Ben Collier, General Manager of The Baum said “I’ve not shifted a cask that fast in a hot minute.” The beer sold out within 8 hours of going on sale and was a huge hit with punters. A percentage of sales is being donated to our charity partners Women of Whitworth.
Ruth of Bríd’s Cross Brewing said, “We’re delighted to be supporting our local charity. It was really lovely to host 7 local women for our second IWD brew day. From planning meetings to brew day, their interest and enthusiasm never waned, getting stuck in with all hands on deck to learning about the processes, it was an honour and a joy. Teaming up with IWCBD who generously offered our participants a chance to gain Level 1 in Beer is inspiring for the next wave of female brewers.”
Kimberley Ashworth of The WoW Project added, “Thank you so much to Bríd’s Cross Brewing for the opportunity to collaborate on ‘Pirate Queen’. It was fantastic to meet so many inspiring females, and we thoroughly enjoyed the day. We are so grateful to Sean and Ruth for this opportunity, and we can’t wait to see the beer at The Baum, Rochdale, The Red Lion Inn, Whitworth, and so many other pubs. Over the last 7 years, we’ve worked on so many fundraising and collaborative projects, but WoW, this will be a memorable experience we’ll never forget.”
Sue, who took part in Brew Day, wrote a lovely poem about her experience. You can read the poem here.
BACKGROUND
We spent Valentine’s Day brewing our second International Women’s Day beer with a group of women from the community. Our first meeting was online in January to discuss beer style, beer name and associated folktale. During brew day, our very own Pirate Queen’s were not only busy with all the hard work which goes into brewing beer, but also learnt about the brewing industry, hops, ingredients, processes, our folkale and passion for beer.
Ales Inspired by Tales
Beer: Hazy Pale, 4%
Folktale: Grace O’Malley (Pirate Queen of County Mayo). Grace was a strong independent woman, a formidable force for her time, and a great role model for women.
Charity Partner
Our Charity Partner this year is Women of Whitworth. A local to us charity doing amazing work.
Collaboration
Women on Tap offered participants the opportunity to study WSET Level 1 in Beer Award.
2026
If you would like to take part in our IWCBD-26 and/or be our Charity Partner please get in touch
Did you know
George RR Martin based his Game of Thrones character, Yara Greyjoy, on Grace O’Malley. We can certainly see the similarities.
Notes to Editors
About Bríd’s Cross Brewing: Bríd’s Cross Brewing is a micro brewery based in Rochdale producing modern ales inspired by folklore and mythology shared around the British Isles.
Permanent Lines: Bríd’s Cross Brewing currently have TWO permanent lines in the following venues: The Baum, 33-37 Toad Lane, Rochdale, OL12 0NU. The Red Lion, 6 Halifax Road, Littleborough, OL15 0HB.
2025 Beer Festivals: Where we’re pouring. More festivals to be confirmed.
2025 HomeBrew Competition: As part of our second birthday celebrations, we are hosting a HomeBrew competition.
Started: Autumn 2023.
Owner: Sean O’Reilly.
Email: sean@bridscross.co.uk
Phone: 07982 721 254
Website: www.bridscross.co.uk
Sean O’Reilly is originally from Suffolk and moved to Rochdale in 2022
Photo: Ruth Shedwick of Bríd’s Cross Brewing (second from left) with brew day participants including members of WoW (Women of Whitworth charity). From left to right – Naomi Burke, Ruth Shedwick, Kimberley Ashworth, Sue Astbury, Carol Thomson, Siobhan Halligan
Contact:
Owner: Sean O’Reilly.
Email: sean@bridscross.co.uk
Phone: 07982 721 254
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