IWD Beer Launch of Betty Blomley

Join us for our launch of this years International Women's Day Collaboration Beer.

BETTY BLOMLEY.

Saturday 7 March, 2pm til late starting at City Arms

A percentage of sales goes towards our Charity Partner, Manchester Women's Aid. So come along and drink us dry...

The mini pubcrawl (led by Manchester Crafty Beer Girls) starts:

2pm: City Arms, 46-48 Kennedy Street, M2 4BQ

4pm: Fell Northern Quarter, 35 Dale Street, M1 2HF

6pm: Port Street Beer House, 39-41 Port Street, M1 2EQ

Plenty of photo opportunities.

We brewed our 3rd International Women's Day beer with Manchester Crafty Beer Girls, a social group for beer-loving, beer-curious women. Together we discussed beer style, beer name and associated folktale. During brew day, our Crafty Beer Girls 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. 

• Beer: Red Session IPA, 4.5%

• Folktale: Betty Blomley lived in an area of Rochdale called The Gank. She was misunderstood by the people of Rochdale, keeping to herself and moving in the half-light; and in an age of superstition, the townsfolk called her witch. But Betty was not a witch, she was a strong woman built of resilience and resourcefulness, doing what she needed to survive in harsh times. Quiet. Determined. Unbroken.

Casks of Betty Blomley SOLD OUT straight away. Maybe people found a connection to her story, or perhaps Red Session IPA's are popular! 

Venues pouring Cask beer of Betty Blomley:

• Port Street Beer House, Manchester

• Fell Bar Northern Quarter, Manchester

• City Arms, Manchester

• Cask Ancoats, Manchester

• Station Hop, Levenshulme

• Reddish Ale, Stockport

• The Crown, Stockport

• Norfolk Arms, Marple Bridge Stockport

• The Baum, Rochdale

• The Flying Horse, Rochdale

• Golden Lion, Todmorden

• Beer Shed, New Mills

Ruth Shedwick of Bríd's Cross Brewing said, "We're delighted to have brewed our 3rd IWD beer and supporting an amazing local charity. It was really lovely to host Manchester Crafty Beer Girls, from planning to brew day, getting stuck in and learning about the processes, their interest and enthusiasm never waned; it was an honour and a joy. Who knows, maybe this has inspired the next wave of female brewers in Greater Manchester. Sean and I discussed reaching out to a female artist for our IWD beers, someone who connected to the strong female archetype. I'm so pleased to be working with Dawn Victoria, from Cornwall (my spiritual home), who has captured Betty beautifully."

Manchester Crafty Beer Girls founder Chess Slattery, who previously worked in the brewing industry, was delighted to be collaborating on their fourth International Women's Collaboration Brew Day. "Teaming up with local breweries for IWCBD has become one our favourite dates in the calendar. Most people don't have the chance to get so hands-on creating and making their own beer, and we always enjoy such a laugh together, despite the VERY early start! We approached Bríd's Cross to be our 2026 IWCBD partners because we knew how much passion they had for this project and, of course, they brew delicious beers. We hope that 'Betty Blomley' will raise some much needed funds for Manchester Women's Aid and that this year's collaboration highlights the positive impact of women in our communities."

Ashleigh Saville of Manchester Women's Aid added, "Manchester Women's Aid are so excited to be the charity partner for this year's Bríd's Cross IWD brew, in collaboration with the wonderful Manchester Crafty Beer Girls! Inspired by Betty Blomley, her courage and independence reflects the resilience of women throughout history, this brew honours the strength of those who fight to keep themselves and their families safe. As you enjoy this beer, we invite you to reflect on the women and girls in your life, and the daily resilience they show."

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.

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.

Contact:

Owner: Sean O'Reilly.

Email: sean@bridscross.co.uk

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