Brass Castle Brewery to celebrate International Women’s Day

Held on Saturday, March 8, women are invited to visit the brewery’s Malton Taphouse for a free beer on the day (including alcohol-free beer) and the opportunity to join a tour of the beer production facility.

International Women’s Day is marked around the world annually to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It also underlines the ongoing need to accelerate women’s equality across the board. For centuries, women have played a vital role in brewing beer, yet their contributions have often been overlooked.

Beer is the world’s oldest alcoholic drink and historically, brewing was considered women’s household work. It is almost certain that women invented beer, alongside discovering bread. In ancient Mesopotamia and Egypt, women were the primary brewers, making beer for religious ceremonies and daily consumption.

During the Middle Ages, female brewers, known as ‘Brewsters’ or ‘Alewives’ dominated the trade in Europe, selling surplus homemade beer from their homes. That practice turned the house with extra beer into a ‘Public House’ and gave us the British ‘Pub’ institution that we know today

Ellis Walsh of Brass Castle Brewery said: “Today, women are reclaiming their place in beer and reshaping the industry again, embracing new flavours, perspectives and innovations. International Women’s Day is great chance to celebrate the role of women in brewing history and to raise a glass to them! We’re looking forward to welcoming women to our Taphouse on Saturday March 8th with a free beer on arrival. We’re also planning to do some tours of our brewery, to give visitors an insight into the science and craft behind brewing.”