Since becoming a craft-beer drinker, several times I've felt like the odd woman out. When I went to book club, my friends would pour a delicate glass of wine and discuss the vintage's qualities while daintily sipping away and chatting about the latest New York Times bestseller we'd chosen. Meanwhile, I nursed a bottle of stout and silently wished the bestseller had more kissing, lasers, and fight scenes. Pinkies up!
I would have read just about anything to get my monthly night out with my friends, but I kept wishing I could have a group of women friends to hang out with who liked to drink beer and who were equally impressed by the hops profile or the nice dash of spice on the finish. I wanted a group of people who had common beer interests to geek out with.
And I'm not alone. Groups for women who love beer have been popping up all over the place, and while some are exclusive to a brewery or taproom, others are nationally organized, with smaller chapters throughout the country. Some welcome homebrewers exclusively, while others are a mix of homebrewers and beer lovers-truly, there is something for everyone!
For the most part, the gatherings are social events where women can gather at their favorite watering hole, make new friends, try brews, and learn a host of new things about the beers they like (and of course try out new beers!). Many opt for touring a new brewery every month to get to know the brewer, sample the beers, and hold a Q&A session. Some meet in a private area of a beer bar and are poured a flight of a specific style of beer, and while they hold a tasting, they learn about the beer. After the official business of the meeting is concluded, they have a social hour.
It's a great way for like-minded women from all walks of life to get together, learn some new things about beer, and of course make some new friends. But maybe the idea of seeking out a group is a bit intimidating, and you're not sure where to start. No worries! I have some ideas for you.
Barley's Angels
Barley's Angels is an international organization, with chapters in the United States, Europe, Australia, and South America. They're located mostly in major cities, which you can find on their website. But what if there's not one very close to you? No problem-the site has great instructions to get you started, and has an awesome support network to help you succeed.
Meetup.com
You can find a group for just about anything on Meetup.com, but it's also got a huge representation for women's craft-beer groups. Creating an account is super quick, and then you can search to your heart's content. Be sure to read each group's description thoroughly to make sure you're following their etiquette and guidelines before you RSVP to a meeting. Want to find a group that you and a male guest can attend together? There are groups for that, too!
Facebook has a plethora of craft-beer groups, but you can also search for events near you. Also be sure to check out your favorite breweries' and beer bars' events because they might already have a group going. Another great feature of Facebook is that you can message the businesses directly and ask if they have a group that might not be advertised.
All right, so after starting with these three websites, what if you haven't found just the right group for you? Do you relegate yourself to sedate book clubs and decide to start liking wine? Not on my watch. Get some of your close friends together, have a pow-wow, and start your own group. If you're all into German industrial music, Belgian beers, and sci-fi romance novels, chances are there are dozens of others nearby who are, too!
Here are some tips to get your new group off and drinking:
Start Small
Meet up a few times with your fledgling group to see what you like and don't like about the meetings. Grow little by little and work out the kinks-it's much easier to do that when there are only a few of you. Cultivate a relationship with a specific brewery or beer bar if you want to meet at just one place regularly. Or make friends with many places in your area and let them know what you're doing. They will likely be happy to spread the word to help you grow.
Get Social
First off, take pictures of your meetings. Show everyone how much fun you're having, and they'll want to join in. Start social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook, then start a Hootsuite account-you can post to all three from Hootsuite, saving you time. You can also schedule several posts for the week, which is a great way to put out reminders. You won't get responses from people at first, but don't give up-building a platform takes time. If you're on Meetup.com, be sure to post often so it's clear you're still going strong when people find you.
Establish Guidelines
You probably noticed on the websites I listed above that all three have clear guidelines and etiquette listed. While you don't want to be super rulesy, you do want to show potential members how you roll. Make it clear you're not there to get wasted or to burn bridges with the businesses who have generously agreed to host you. If you're starting your group under the umbrella of another organization, be sure you follow their guidelines to a T. Show that you're there to have fun, but that you're going to be respectful of everyone in attendance. At the same time, don't feel that you have to be the members' parent-if they don't feel like they can relax and enjoy the experience, they probably won't be back.
Delegate Tasks
One thing that all successful organizations have in common is that they have multiple people at the helm performing various tasks. If one person is doing All The Things they're going to get tired and burnt out, which is counterintuitive to having a great time. Elect officers, give them clear roles, and let them do their thing.
Have Fun
Having fun is what you set out to do in the first place, right? So get to it!
We'd love to know more about your women's craft-beer groups and how you got started!