This blog was written by Carys Hind, Hop Sun regular and newest addition to the Hop Sun team.
On the 7th of March, Sharon and I from The Hop Sun Tap and Heathen Brewers made our way to Hand Brew Co in West Worthing to mark International Women’s Day in true brewing style – surrounded by incredible women, creativity, and of course, beer.
We were welcomed by a brilliant gathering of women from across the Sussex brewing scene, all coming together to celebrate and collaborate. After grabbing a quick cup of tea to warm up, we joined everyone in the brewery to mash in – the first step in creating a special beer brewed for the day, which will be released in April. It was a hands-on start to a fantastic day, and we’re so excited for you to try the final result!
In between brewing, we got creative with some canvas painting to celebrate the occasion. It was a fun, laid-back way to express the spirit of the day and connect with others in the community.
Lunchtime brought delicious, freshly made pizzas cooked in a portable pizza oven – the kind you’d have in your garden – and they absolutely hit the spot. With full bellies, we settled in for a fascinating talk from The Toadlickers Collective on the history of women in brewing. We even learned that the image of the ‘witch’ – complete with cauldron and broomstick – may have originated from early female brewers. Talk about reclaiming history!
The afternoon had more surprises in store. We gave belly dancing a go right there in the brewery – lots of laughs, hip shimmies, and a new appreciation for dancing around fermentation tanks.
To round off the day, Jo Goddard from Siren Shanties led us in Wassailing the yeast – a joyful, traditional blessing to encourage a successful brew.
The day also helped raise money for Women in Beer, a brilliant organisation that supports women on their beer journey – whether it’s their passion, profession, or simply a new hobby they’re keen to explore.
Huge thanks to Hand Brew Co for hosting such an inspiring day. Keep an eye out – our special International Women’s Day brew will be pouring from our taps in April, and we can’t wait to share it with you.
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