TUNE IN LIVE APRIL 23 – 24TH
EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION STARTS MARCH 1
FEATURING OVER 35 SESSIONS AND 55 SPEAKERS IN THE BREWING INDUSTRY
Non-profit Women’s Craft Fermentation Alliance (WFCA) announces the lineup for the second annual Women’s International Beer Summit presented by Grainfather, taking place virtually through Crowdcast Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24th. The summit will kick off with keynote speaker Julia Herz, Executive Director of the American Homebrewers Association, with over 35 sessions and over 55 speakers from around the globe to follow over the course of the two-day event. WFCA is dedicated to enabling, empowering and encouraging women and non-binary folks in all facets of the craft fermentation space, and this year’s summit is representing that with a wide range of topics including how to build a brewery, hop sensory analysis, becoming a BJCP certified judge, creating more safe and inclusive workspaces, the history of beer, cider-making, digital content strategy, yeast science and much more.
“This summit is an incredible opportunity for women to connect and share their interest and passion for brewing,” says Julia Herz. “I am excited to help kick it off on Saturday and for attendees to hear from this inspiring lineup of speakers.”
The summit will offer an interactive experience between speakers and attendees with sessions like hop sensory training with Yakima Chief Hops which includes hop samples; yeast science with Fermentis which also includes yeast samples and will be split into two sessions one focusing on beer, wine and cider yeast, and the other focusing on distilled spirits. All sessions provide an educational look into the world of brewing, for example how to use honey in beer with The Barreled Bee Founder Lee Hedgmon who is also a distiller at Freeland Spirits, non-alcoholic beer brewing with Athletic Brewing, what it takes to open a cidery and winery with Hannah Fergusen of Dope Cider House & Winery, and the strategy behind crowdfunding to launch the first female-led craft brewery in Rwanda with Kweza Craft Brewery.
“This event is a chance for our attendees to hear firsthand from these movers and shakers in the brewing industry how they got their start and the impact we can each make in the art and science that is craft fermentation,” says Melissa McCann, Founder of the Women’s International Beer Summit. “Throughout the event, attendees will also have the opportunity to ask panelists questions, offering a one-on-one experience for them to chat directly with industry professionals.”
WCFA Executive Director and the former Director of Queen of Beer – the oldest all-female homebrew competition in the United States – McCann founded the summit in 2021, which had over 382 registered users from 10 different countries. McCann is also a BJCP Certified Beer Judge and has been involved in the beer community for several years organizing, volunteering, and managing beer events.
“One of the things we value most about the summit is that our incredibly knowledgeable speakers get to share their passion, knowledge and skill set with our audience, rather than simply being asked to discuss what it is like to be a woman in the industry.” says Wonder, WCFA’s Marketing/Web Director and an award-winning homebrewer, BJCP Certified beer judge, Certified Beer Server, a home winemaker and founder of the BIB Homebrew PDX Brewing Project. “We set aside that question and let them simply express what it is they do and know best. With that said, in light of the tumultuous year the industry has had we will have several sessions dedicated to this topic as well.”
In light of McCann and Women’s International Beer Summit Co-Founder Michele Wonder’s involvement in the homebrewing community, the event is an opportunity for homebrewers, aspiring brewers, beer drinkers and brewing professionals to connect and share their passion for all things fermentation.
Collectively McCann, Wonder, and WFCA’s Vickie Olson, Community Outreach Director, and Crystal Grupta, Technology Director, have made this event celebrating women in craft fermentation possible.
Early bird registration will take place March 1 through March 15th with tickets on sale for $40, then tickets will be $50 through April 22. The first 300 registrants will receive an interactive sensory box. All paid registrants will be eligible to win a Grainfather Glycol Chiller. 10% of all ticket sales will be donating to Lifting Lucy and the Brave Voices Fund. Leading up to the event through the Women’s International Beer Summit’s social media accounts and live during the event, attendees will have the chance to win various giveaways including additional items from Grainfather, a spot in Yakima Chiefs Hop & Brew School, 2 tickets to 2022 Homebrew Con in PA, gift certificates, brewery swag as well as scholarship opportunities including beer server training and testing from Cicerone, beer judging training courses from Advanced Cicerone and National BJCP Beer Judge Jen Blair, UC Davis Online Brewing Courses and more to be announced. Attendees will have access to watch or rewatch all sessions for up to a year or more.
The Women’s International Beer Summit is made possible due to the generous support of our sponsors: Grainfather (Presenting Sponsor), Fermentis (Generous Sponsor), Imperial Yeast (Notable Sponsor), Yakima Chief Hops (Notable Sponsor), Amoretti (Notable Sponsor), American Homebrewers Association (Notable Sponsor)
To learn more about the Women’s Craft Fermentation Alliance and the Women’s International Beer Summit, go to https://wcfa.beer.
About Women’s Craft Fermentation Alliance (WCFA)
The Women’s Craft Fermentation Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that founded and executes the annual Women’s International Beer Summit. We are dedicated to enabling, empowering and encouraging women and non binary folks in all facets of the craft fermentation space.