Stroud Brewery has launched a special pale ale called Brew Belles to honour International Women’s Day. The 4.5% beer draws inspiration from historical female brewers who used botanicals before hops became common in the UK. It is available exclusively at the brewery’s taproom for a limited time.
On International Women’s Day, Stroud Brewery released Brew Belles, a dry, fruity and zingy 4.5% pale ale. The beer is inspired by historical times when brewers were principally women, known as brewsters or ale wives, who utilised botanicals for flavour before hops were introduced into the UK. Today, women represent just 9% of active brewers, despite their long heritage in Europe, particularly before the modern commercialisation of brewing.
Brew Belles is orange in colour and flavour, featuring subtle botanical notes including a hint of lavender to celebrate the Cotswolds. It incorporates citrusy hops and aims to widen beer’s appeal to new audiences, including those hesitant about beer. As a small-batch brew, it is available exclusively in the brewery’s taproom starting Sunday, and supplies are limited—once it’s gone, it’s gone.
Victoria Dovey-Spicer, the only current female brewer at Stroud Brewery, led the creation of this special-edition beer. After a career in product marketing for tech corporations, she sought a change and joined the brewery last July. She has been learning the art of brewing craft, organic beer, and Brew Belles is her first recipe. Victoria has personal ties to the brewery: it served as a social venue for meeting friends, the site of her third date with her now-husband, and provided beer for their wedding guests.
Victoria finds the brewing process fascinating, noting how subtle changes in chemistry and process yield different tastes. She looks forward to collaborating on more recipes.
“The category of beer is wonderfully vast, both historically and in today’s landscape,” said Victoria. “By crafting a beer with botanical elements, we are trying to push the boundaries of modern beer’s image, and appeal to people who may not think of themselves as a beer drinker. We’re also proud to mark International Women’s Day with this unique recipe to celebrate women in the industry, past and present. Brew Belles is a 4.5% ABV pale ale, dry but fruity and zingy, orange in colour and flavour with subtle notes of lavender. We invite you to come to the taproom to give it a try and test your perception of what beer can be.”
