A Woman’s Brew

In this episode, we’re heading across South Wales with our friend Ruth Mitchell, who has very helpfully moved to Wales so she can show us where all the good beer is! We’re talking beer tourism, beautiful places and the breweries worth building a weekend around, starting in Tenby and working our way through Swansea, St Davids and Cardiff. Ruth takes us through taprooms, brewpubs and some seriously lovely beer spots, whil...

In this bucket list beer episode, we’re cracking open Orval, one of Belgium’s most distinctive Trappist beers – and discovering that it really is a beer that refuses to fit neatly into a box. We taste our way through its surprisingly dry, highly carbonated character, picking up Belgian yeast, pepper, orange peel, floral notes, herbal hops, earthy Brett and a touch of dried fruit. We also get into why Orval is such...

Do you know where your beer is actually made? In this episode, we’re getting stuck into CAMRA’s latest Beer in the UK report and, as you might expect, we have Thoughts. We’re talking about independent breweries, the Big Four, tied pubs, provenance and the question of whether beer drinkers are really being “lied to” about what’s on the bar. We also get into some terminology that was new to at leas...

We’re a little late with our mid-year review, but there’s been plenty to catch up on. From International Women’s Day collaboration brews to beer festivals, brewery visits and far more spreadsheets than anyone probably needs, we’re looking back at the first six months of the year and asking what’s actually changed in our beer lives. Along the way we compare our wildly different beer-tracking habits, deb...

This is the episode we've been building towards for years as we finally crack open one of the most legendary beers in the world: Sam Adams Utopias. After years of searching, a lucky find in the US, an anxious journey across the Atlantic, and plenty of excitement (and nerves!), we sit down together in the same room to experience Joanne's ultimate bucket-list beer. We dive into what makes Utopias so extraordinary, from its eye-wateri...

This week we're ticking off another beer bucket list contender as we crack open Left Hand Brewing Company's iconic Milk Stout Nitro. A beer that has been winning awards, inspiring devoted fans, and confusing drinkers with its famous hard pour for over 25 years. We dive into the history of Left Hand Brewing, how they became pioneers of bottled nitro beer without using a widget, and why this creamy American stout helped revive the mi...

This week on A Woman’s Brew, we’re swapping doomscrolling for good vibes and celebrating the wholesome side of beer. Feeling the effects of busy schedules, burnout and everyday chaos, we wanted to create an episode that feels like a warm hug in podcast form. Over a couple of carefully chosen beers, we share heartwarming stories from across the beer world that remind us why we love this community so much.

From dads lear...

In this Bucket List Beers episode, we’re diving headfirst into the nostalgic chaos of Omnipollo’s iconic Bianca series — the thick, heavily fruited “lassi gose” beers that defined an era of hype craft beer. From the unforgettable feathered cans to the eye-watering price tags, we reminisce about the beers that felt more like desserts, smoothies, or complete fever dreams than traditional beer. Along the ...

In this episode, we fully lean into the weird—starting with a black garlic beer that had been sitting in our “save for the right moment” pile for far too long. Spoiler: we decided to stop waiting and just drink the thing. What we expected to be bold, punchy, and unmistakably garlicky turned out to be… surprisingly normal. Instead of garlic bread in a glass, we got a smooth, caramel-forward amber ale with su...

In this Bucket List Beers episode, we’re diving into one of the most iconic saisons out there—Saison Dupont. Joanne is firmly in her happy place, while Tori has a bit of a “wait… I have had this before” moment. Together, we explore whether this legendary Belgian beer really lives up to its reputation as the saison.

Along the way, we chat about the charm (and possible myths) behind the saison style, s...

We’re so excited to finally welcome back one of our favourite returning guests—Emma from Merakai—and honestly, it feels like no time has passed (even if it’s technically been three years 😅). In this episode, we catch up on everything that’s happened since we last spoke: from launching their Worthing taproom to navigating the realities of running a small, independent brewery in a tough climate. Emma sh...

In this episode, we dive headfirst into the wonderfully nerdy world of hop breeding, sparked by our shared stash of Dolcita (formerly HBC 1019) pellets. What starts as a casual “shall we talk about this?” quickly turns into a full-on exploration of how new hop varieties are created—from experimental crosses and field trials to pilot brews and, eventually, commercial release. Along the way, we chat about why hop br...

In this episode of A Woman’s Brew, we head to Bristol to chat with Kezia and Rosie from Bristol Beer Factory about their 2026 International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day beer, Cowgirl Supernova. Rosie, one of BBF’s female brewers, and Kezia from the marketing team talk us through how the brewery handed the reins over to the women of the company to design the beer from the ground up—from recipe to branding. ...

In this prehistoric party of a Bucket List Beers episode, we finally get stuck into the iconic Sue line-up from Toppling Goliath Brewing Co. — starting with the legendary Pseudo Sue before levelling up to King Sue. While only one of them officially makes it into the bucket list books, we couldn’t resist putting both (okay… three) to the test. From that unmistakable Citra burst in Pseudo Sue — all juicy citr...

In this special Valentine’s Day episode of A Woman’s Brew, we’re celebrating love in all its forms—romantic, platonic, and definitely beer-related! We dive into how to craft the perfect beer pairing for a romantic date night, from selecting the ideal flight to sharing a few heartwarming (and hilarious) stories about how beer has played a role in our relationships. Whether it’s a love for beer, brewerie...

In this episode of A Woman’s Brew, we’re officially dusting off the crystal ball and looking ahead to what beer might look like in 2026. Fresh off a reset—new goals, new microphones, and a renewed sense of purpose—we dig into why now feels like the right moment to talk trends. With lagers in our glasses, we reflect on the state of the industry, the post-COVID reality for breweries, and why stories of decline...

In this episode of A Woman’s Brew, we’re calling last orders on 2025 and raising a glass to a fresh start in 2026. We chat through our end-of-year rewind, reflecting on what was a surprisingly huge year for the podcast, even when life, travel, and work got wildly busy. From rethinking how we structure our wrap-ups (goodbye quarterlies, hello half-years) to acknowledging just how high a bar we accidentally set for oursel...

In this Bucket List Beer episode, we finally sit down with one of the most talked-about and divisive classics in the beer world: Duchesse de Bourgogne. From the very first pour, this conversation becomes as much about ritual and anticipation as it is about flavour — from glassware choices and careful bottle-conditioned pours to the (very real) emotional impact of not having the right cheese to hand. We talk honestly about why...

In this festive episode of A Women’s Brew, we dive head-first into the most chaotic and comforting corner of Christmas: Quality Street, Roses, Heroes, Celebrations… and the Vault City beers inspired by them. We kick things off by sorting ourselves into our “chocolate houses,” reminiscing about the glory days of Woolworths pick-and-mix, and fiercely debating which sweets truly count as Christmas classics. Al...