A Woman’s Brew

Back by popular demand (if you don’t listen to Tori!), Rik joins Tori to talk about their recent Belgian excursion to the Toer De Geuze where tradition meets the bubbling excitement of craft brewing. They embraced the unique opportunity to peek behind the curtains of some of Belgium's most revered Lambic breweries and blenders.

But! Navigating this event, that only happens every two years, can be a bit challenging. They share their top tips for planning and budgeting for the trip and how to find your way to the event hosted by Horal – The High Council for Artisanal Lambic Beers.

Tori and Rik visited Tilquin, Lambiek Fabriek, Kestemont and De Cam, each having their own unique attributes and activities for the day.

Has this inspired you to plan a trip for the next Toer De Geuze or do you have other tips to help travellers to the Pajottenland? Let us know!

You can find out more about the Toer De Geuze here:

https://horal.be/en/events/toer-de-geuze/

And read the blog post that Jo found here:

https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2017/05/geuze-bus-tours.html?m=1

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

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Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

This episode takes a unique spin as we explore the landscape of top-rated beers, sipping our way through Julius by Treehouse and some of it’s variants. We'll navigate the world of exceptional beers, discussing the finer points that elevate a beer to "top-rated" status.

Tori shares her experiences of visiting Treehouse while she was in the US and Jo walks you through her Try All The Beers blog series. We’ll help you put together your bucket list of beers you must try with this episode!

We drink through Julius (will Jo like it?!) and it’s variants Queen Julius and Cobbler – are these beers worthy of being top rated?

What are your top rated beers and what’s on your beer bucket list? Let us know!

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

This week, we're embarking on a flavourful journey south of the border to explore the enigmatic world of Mexican lagers. But do we once again have more questions than answers? We contrast craft enthusiasms with macro lager charm and question how a slice of lime became synonymous with a whole genre of beer.

From the Austrian-brewed history of the Vienna lager's Mexican adventures to the European and American perspectives that have painted our knowledge of these beers, we not only taste some UK versions but alos look at the colonial history of Mexico that has shaped it’s brewing heritage.

So whether you have a Corona in hand or a Cerveza, join us while we try to define what a ‘Mexican Lager’ actually is.

In this episode we drink:

Cerveza from Fierce Beer

Luz from Omnipollo

Mexican Lager from Northern Monk.

Do you have Mexican beer recs for us? Let us know your top picks!

Here are the articles that Jo recommends you read about Mexican lager:

https://www.casketbeer.com/home/2022/12/1/mexican-lager-history-and-appropriation

https://beerisforeveryone.com/colonialism-and-the-legacy-of-lager-in-mexico/amp/

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

In this episode we tap into the world of core beer ranges, the power of first beer impressions, and the essence of a brewery's core lineup. What makes a great core range and what do you expect from a brewery’s flagship beers? Do you have a favourite core range?

We also took this opportunity to taste through some beers Jo brought back from the US from Alaskan Brewing Co – one of the breweries that got her into beer. Tori and Jo share a selection of the beers that started their craft beer journeys – with some interesting overlaps!

Oh! And Tori gamifies the system by testing Jo’s knowledge of core range beers!

What beers started your craft beer journey? Let us know!

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

It's been a wild ride this first quarter of 2024, keeping us busy when we should be working on our beer goals and the drink harder challenge! Despite our best efforts to stay on top of our beer check-ins and tracking, we admit, keeping up has been a bit of a struggle. But it's all in the name of good beer and great company!

But! We have a few updates for you, including our memorable visit to Craft Beer Junction and savouring beers blended with intriguing fruits. Jo chats about her dedication to tracking the beer styles she tries this year and how she faced mixed emotions when drinking a whiskey drink, a vodka drink, a lager drink, and a cider drink – all in one sitting!

Tori is on a mission to widen her circle of beer appreciation and engage in heartfelt conversations with fellow enthusiasts. She tells us of her experience of hosting her first panel and is planning some trips in 2024 – so make sure you are following us on socials to see where she ends up.

Oh!.... Did we mention we’re in a book too?!

How are your beer goals going so far in 2024? Let us know!

You can grab your copy of ‘The Devil is in the Draught Lines’ here:

https://shop1.camra.org.uk/product/the-devils-in-the-draught-lines-1000-years-of-women-in-britains-beer-history/

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

This week, we're delving deep into the world of hops with Siren’s thrilling challenge of "Guess the Hop." Using the challenge as a starting point, we guide you through the intense and important process of judging hops for brewing, discussing the meticulous attention to detail and keen sense of smell required. We share our experiences of identifying different hops, the tools and techniques we recommend, and the impact of unconscious bias in the tasting process.

Together, we will take you on a journey through the complexities of hop selection, exploring the variability in scent and quality influenced by factors such as weather, agricultural changes, and the location where hops are grown. From rubbing hop samples to using sensory wheels, books and single hopped beers, we will provide valuable insights into the intricate art of discerning hop aromas and flavours.

Moreover, we’ll share our thoughts on the influence of suggestion and external descriptions on the perception of flavours in beer, offering valuable tips and considerations for both seasoned tasters and beginner beer enthusiasts. So, join us as unravel the complexities of identifying hops in beer. It's a hop-filled adventure you won't want to miss!

Read more about Siren’s Guess The Hop challenge here:

https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/stories-and-events/blog/guess-the-hop

You can still buy the beers here:

https://www.sirencraftbrew.com/browse/guess-the-hop

And find Mark Dredge’s hop wheel here:

https://www.beerdredge.com/beer-wheel

What’s your favourite hop? Let us know!

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

He’s back! Our mate, Matt Lincoln, formerly of Siren and Unbarred, and who has been on the podcast a couple of times, is leaving us to move to the US! Tori took the opportunity to ask him about the move and revisit his background in beer.

Matt gives us his current insights into Atlanta, where he is moving to, and adds his top tips for moving a beer stash to another country.

Also – does lager pair with Victoria Sponge? How much Yorkshire Tea is he packing? And what are his hot takes on controversial US drinking practices? Listen to find out!

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Tasting beers blind is a hard task, but it’s also really fun! This week we are trying to guess what Yonder’s 2024 mystery beers are and arguing about it along the way!

We discuss blind beer tastings in general – they are a great way to train your tasting palate - and ways you can set up your own. As it happens, Jo has a kit for that in her Etsy shop!

Have you tried this year’s mystery beers? What do you think they are?

You can still enter Yonder’s competition until 31stMarch, find out more information here:

https://brewyonder.co.uk/blogs/news/mystery-beers-project-2024

And if you want to see what we thought of last year’s mystery beers, head over to Ko-Fi and buy us a beer here:

https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew

Grab Jo’s Blind Beer Tasting Kit here:

https://www.etsy.com/uk/listing/1381261666/blind-beer-tasting-kit-printable-beer?click_key=6435582d279d6e65afe53dea6deab8c33ca6e74f%3A1381261666&click_sum=0e99d724&ref=shop_home_active_2&crt=1

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Who knew there could be some new hotness in lager?! Continuing our lager series, we look at West Coast Pils, which is billed to be the hottest beer style of 2024 (do you agree?!)

As a new style, there aren’t any definite style guidelines for West Coast Pils yet, so we dig into what you should expect. We tried three versions from UK breweries and look at what factors are shaping the style.

We drank:

Ricochet by Siren Brew Co

West Coast Pils by North Brew Co x Left Handed Giant

Cold Coast by Mash Gang

Is this beer the best of the lager and IPA worlds? Have you had the chance to try one yet? Let us know!

Check out the article that Jo found about West Coast Pils here:

https://beerandbrewing.com/writing-the-rules-of-west-coast-pilsner/

Check out the rest of our lager series here:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLmO-fOFdLEdqjHZZ2nkKqXCB6zg_UW2Jq

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

You know we love supporting women owned businesses at A Woman’s Brew, and who better to visit us than Carys from Craft Beerings.

You may have seen Carys’ offerings at beer festivals – beautiful earrings, bracelets and more made from craft beer cans. We talk about the origins on Craft Beerings, her creative process and what makes a beer can perfect for creating jewellery with.

Craft Beerings has also been nominated for Essex Small Business Awards, go vote for Carys here:

https://thesmallbusinessawards.co.uk/essexvoting/

And check out where she will be next over on her Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/craftbeerings/

Do you own any craft beer inspired jewellery or wearables? Let us know!

Get in Touch:

Email: [email protected]

Website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/lovebeerlearning

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/lovebeerlearning

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @awomansbrew.

Facebook Group: Women's Pint Club

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Etsy Shop: http://www.etsy.com/uk/shop/LoveBeerLearning

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com