Create beer has exploded in popularity over the last decade, with small independent breweries fascinating consumers with innovative flavors and creativity. However, the industry has long been male-dominated, with women struggling to break into brewing’s notoriously tough boy’s club. Mujeres Brew House is changing that narrative. As America’s first brewery owned and operated entirely by Latinas, Mujeres Brew House exemplifies the power of diversity and inclusion in brewing, creating a space where women can thrive and innovate in the craft beer industry.
Introduction
Craft beer has seen meteoric growth over the last decade. As big beer conglomerates continue to lose market share, small independent breweries now account for over 24% of the $119 billion US beer market. These innovative breweries win over consumers with experimental new styles, local ingredients, and an emphasis on community.
However, the craft beer industry has long suffered from a lack of diversity, especially when it comes to women. Female brewers often face discrimination, harassment, and significant barriers to advancement. In 2019, only 4% of US breweries had a woman as head brewer or in another top production role.
Mujeres Brew House, America’s first brewery owned and operated entirely by Latinas, seeks to change that statistic. Founded in 2021 in the Bronx, New York by partners Cecilia Contreras, Damaris De Los Santos, Jamila Jaber, Susana Balcaza, and Waleska Rivera, Mujeres Brew House has a bold vision to empower women and people of color in the craft beer industry. Their brasserie and brewery is not only woman-owned but strives to build an inclusive community celebrating cultural diversity through exceptional beer.
The Rise of Women in Craft Beer
Beer brewing has historically been an industry dominated by men. For centuries, it was believed that women were incapable of high-quality brewing, as they lacked the physical strength required. Social norms also dictated that beer was a “man’s drink,” keeping women relegated to the home and barred from commercial breweries.
While some women broke barriers early on, such as New York’s Lavinia Fanning who founded a successful porter brewery in 1799, they remained extreme outliers. It wasn’t until the craft beer boom of the late 20th century that women truly began staking their claim in the industry.
Pioneers like Carol Stoudt, who founded Stoudts Brewing Company in 1987, paved the way for the next generation of female brewers. Today, women make up around 10% of head brewing roles in the US, owning breweries at more than double the rate of the overall beverage industry. High profile female-led breweries like Sierra Nevada, New Belgium, and Dogfish Head showcase that craft beer is no longer just a boy’s club.
However, significant barriers persist that prevent equal access for women, especially women of color. From obtaining financing to contending with sexist distribution practices, female brewers still face an uneven playing field. That’s where trailblazers like Mujeres Brew House come in, actively working to shift culture and empower marginalized brewers.
Mujeres Brew House: A Visionary Concept
The roots of Mujeres Brew House trace back to 2018 when founders Cecilia Contreras and Damaris De Los Santos met while working together at a Bronx craft brewery. Bonding over their shared experiences as Latinas struggling in a white male-dominated industry, a bold vision was formed over after-work beers: a brewery owned and operated entirely by women of color.
After years of careful planning, Mujeres Brew House opened its doors in 2021 with the mission of empowering women and marginalized groups in craft beer. Their brasserie and brewery in the culturally-rich South Bronx became America’s first Latina-owned and operated brewery.
More than just a place to grab unique brews, Mujeres Brew House aspires to drive systemic change in craft beer, actively fostering diversity and giving women the tools to excel as brewers. Through partnerships with local malt houses and biotechnology programs, they are building an ecosystem to nurture innovation and opportunity for marginalized groups seeking to break into brewing.
At the heart of Mujeres’ vision are the millennial Latinas that lead it – master brewer Damaris, chef Cecilia, creative director Waleska, events guru Susana, and strategist Jamila. Coming from Puerto Rican and Dominican roots, these women fuse their heritages with their Bronx upbringing to create a one-of-a-kind cultural experience celebrating identity, food, and exceptional beer.
Fostering Diversity and Inclusion
Core to Mujeres Brew House’s mission is cultivating an inclusive environment that empowers women and people of color in the craft beer community. They actively foster opportunities for marginalized groups through partnerships, events, and hands-on training programs.
For example, Mujeres partners with local malt houses and hop collectives to source ingredients from minority and women-owned companies. Their distribution relationships also prioritize working with similar producers, allowing Mujeres to lift up other marginalized brewers.
The brewery’s taproom hosts regular “Brewing While Female” events aimed at women and non-binary persons interested in getting into beer production. Attendees learn hands-on brewing skills, sample unique beers, and make connections with women thriving in the industry. Mujeres also spotlights Latin culture with events like Noche de Micrófonos Abierto, which fuses poetry, art, and beer appreciation.
Education lies at the heart of Mujeres’ diversity programs. Their Brewing Apprenticeship trains people of color and women in advanced brewing techniques, preparing them for careers in beer production. Graduates gain priority placement connections with partner breweries seeking to diversify their teams.
Breaking Barriers: Women in Brewing
Mujeres Brew House spotlights the stories of trailblazing women shaping craft beer culture while breaking through barriers. We sat down with some incredible female brewers to learn about their inspirations, challenges, and words of wisdom for aspiring beer-makers:
“I got into craft beer through my Puerto Rican roots and family traditions of homemade coconut porter,” explains Waleska Rivera, creative director and partner at Mujeres. “We use beer as a vehicle to tell stories and empower marginalized communities.”
Finding opportunities to excel as a Latina brewer hasn’t been easy, however. “It’s frustrating constantly being tested to prove your worth because of outdated assumptions surrounding women. But the sisterhood we’re building makes it all worthwhile,” Waleska beams.
Cecilia Contreras, head chef and partner, echoes those sentiments. “I fought hard to get training as a woman chef in male-centric kitchens. Now I fuse Latin cuisine with our awesome beers to showcase how diversity breeds innovation.”
Cecilia’s advice to up-and-coming brewsters? “Tune out the toxic voices, and never compromise who you are. If the craft beer world can’t handle you with pride in your identity, you’re better than it anyway!”
Joelle Ing crafts unforgettable brews as head brewer. She urges women to jump right in, saying, “Don’t wait for permission or a red carpet. Get experience any way you can and work harder than anyone expects. The future is created by showing up, getting your hands dirty, and never accepting no for an answer.”
Collaboration and Community Engagement
Anchored within the vibrant South Bronx community, outreach sits at the core of Mujeres’ mission. They actively collaborate with similar values-driven businesses while engaging local organizations through partnerships and events.
For example, Mujeres hosts monthly “Latinx Market” days spotlighting Bronx-based minority makers, artists, and food pop-ups. Brewery tours are available in English and Spanish, welcoming their diverse neighborhood.
Partnerships also further mutual goals of empowerment. Mujeres’ brewing apprenticeship connects with affordable housing developer MidBronx Senior Citizens Council to place low-income trainees. The Bronx Brewery Alliance inspires friendly competition while allowing struggling brewers to utilize excess Mujeres capacity.
Mujeres also pays it forward to the next generation through working with community youth groups. Their “Brewing Futures” program offers STEM education for teen girls focused on fermentation science and beer production. Participants even get to debut their unique brews at Mujeres events.
Through local collaborations, Mujeres Brew House harnesses the power of community to drive meaningful change in diversity and women’s advancement – one pint at a time.
Crafting Unique Brews
While making an impact motivates Mujeres’ founders, they don’t skimp on crafting awesome beer. Brewmaster Damaris fuses Latin inspiration with experimental new styles to birth uniquely original concepts.
One standout is Flor de Mayo, a floral honey witbier with orange blossom and chamomile blending refreshing citrus with herbal tranquility. Its natural amber hue and creamy body make for a supremely drinkable experience.
Foxy Brown Ale turns convention on its head as a female-forward take on British brown ale. Chocolate and caramel malts combine with spicy American hops and a roasty kick – capturing the essence of its namesake hip hop icon.
Another signature Mujeres brew is Señorita Stout, an audacious imperial stout aged in both rum and tequila barrels. Notes of cocoa, vanilla and oak interplay with coconut and agave for a luxurious finisher; it’s liquid crème brûlée in a glass.
While traditional styles get re-imagined, Mujeres also pushes boundaries with avant-garde creations. Purple Rain sours the palate with a burst of blackberry and blueberry, while Xica blends an English porter base with corn, herbs and chili peppers for an homage to the brewery’s Brazilian roots.
The beer board always surprises, keeping loyal patrons on their toes with innovation, heart and soul.
Supporting Women-Owned Businesses
In line with its mission, Mujeres Brew House actively partners with women-owned companies throughout the craft beer supply chain. This enables them to spread opportunity while keeping quality high.
For example, the glassware adorning taproom tables hails from Queens-based Zaida Ceramics, founded by Dominican artist Zaida García. Their hops come from South Bronx hop growers collective Chica Hops, which helps urban farmers cultivate crops on small plots across the borough.
On the supplier side, Mujeres receives regular malt deliveries from women-run South Slope Malting, admiring their focus on ethics and sustainability. They’ve also collaborated on a special beer with woman-owned City Acre Brewing showcasing foraged local vegetables.
When asked about working with women-entrepreneurs, head brewer Damaris explains: “Intentionally partnering with minority and women-owned businesses allows everyone to rise together. Plus, these fierce ladies make some damn good products!”
The Latin American influence shines through in Mujeres’ ingredient sourcing as well. Their distribution partner is Wandering Wheels, founded by Guatemalan cyclist Marissa Lopez to sustainably transport local beer by bike-power.
By lifting up other women and people of color in craft beer, Mujeres Brew House exemplifies that empowerment requires solidarity and compassion. The community grows stronger when all voices get heard.
Empowering Through Education
Education serves as the cornerstone for Mujeres Brew House’s mission of empowering marginalized groups in craft beer. From brewing apprenticeships to connections with biotech training programs, they actively foster pathways for advancement.
For example, Mujeres’ “Brewing While Female” events offer hands-on brew days for women and non-binary individuals to hone practical skills guided by head brewer Damaris. Attendees also enjoy presentations on topics like microbial analysis, quality control, and sourcing ethical ingredients.
Amarilis Perez participated in the program after facing discrimination from male colleagues at the brewpub she managed. “I gained confidence in my abilities just from seeing other women excelling unapologetically. Now I’m head brewer at a new brewery owned by a female Master Cicerone!”
Mujeres also partners with colleges to generate excitement for production pathways. Their annual Brew-N-STEM Festival invites middle and high school girls to tour the brewery and engage in experiments guided by women scientists. Attendees extract strawberry DNA and use polymerase chain reactions to explore fermentation science.
According to event manager Susana, “We make it fun and accessible, empowering them to see science as creative. Several girls realized this could be an awesome career path!”
Through education, Mujeres Brew House plants seeds today to help diversify the future of craft beer. There are so many gifted voices that can spur progress once equipped with opportunity.
Celebrating Women in Beer
While Mujeres undoubtedly uplifts women year-round, they go all out every March for International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day. Their “Femme Fest” celebration unites both women consumers and creators in a vibrant tribute to ladies advancing craft beer culture.
The event packs the house with an explosion of color as vibrant murals and art installations transform the taproom. Burlesque dancers wow the crowd with choreographed routines themed around beer. DJ Chica Chica pumps crowds up with salsa, hip hop, and house beats reverberating energy.
Of course beer takes center stage, with over 20 unique collaborations from female brew teams across the globe. Guatemalan craft brewery El Bute puts a Mayan twist on their Ixchel honey blonde ale with corn and squash, while Toronto’s Bandit Brewery goes bold with a double dry-hopped IIPA.
Storytelling connects the beer and community. Booths sprinkle throughout for female hop growers, brewers, artists, and scientists to share their craft. Homebrewers swap recipes and trade samples, embracing the power of sisterhood. Badass large-format photo installations pay homage to ladies pushing craft beer culture forward.
Femme Fest culminates with the Divine Beverage Awards, handing out spirited acknowledgement to standout women advancing brewing culture. Recent honorees include Lucy Burningham, the legendary beer writer who chronicles feminism in fermentation.
Nurturing Future Leaders
Mujeres firmly believes the future of craft beer rests on cultivating emerging talent, actively nurturing future female leaders through their Trailblazer Program initiative. The intensive mentorship initiative connects aspiring brewers “Scholars” with masters across production, business operations, and taproom management.
Recent scholar Angie Yang came to Mujeres with a biology degree but limited hands-on experience. She was paired with head brewer Joelle Ing, who guided Angie’s raw passion into refined technique. After six months training on the brasserie floor, Angie won bronze at the New York City Beer Cup for her Horchata Golden Stout. She now owns newcomer downtown sensation Valhalla Brewery, leaning on lessons from her Trailblazer mentorship.
For scholar Gaby Torres, the business operations track helped her snap up an events coordinator role with Mujeres after graduation. She facilitated collaboration brews with partners like La Rubia Blonde Ale, Creaturas Brewing, and Bronx Brewery Alliance. Her proudest accomplishment was coordinating Mujeres’ Hockey Helps Fundraiser supporting cancer research.
Operations director Jamila Jaber beams about the scholars: “The raw talent is awe-inspiring. We simply provide the hands-on opportunity for our scholars to refine strengths and build confidence. They change craft beer for the better.”
Sustainability and Ethical Practices
Innovation with integrity guides all operations at Mujeres Brew House. They aim to balance delivering exceptional products while minimizing environmental impact, guided by ethical values rooted within the community.
That ethos manifests in renewable energy initiatives like their rooftop solar array and heat reclamation system. Energy-efficient heating and chilling equipment trim costs alongside reduced emissions. They supplement natural light through windows with strategic LED placements, keeping both patrons and the planet happy.
Waste streams also get repurposed for enhanced sustainability. Spent grain gets donated for animal feed to local urban farms, while leftovers become nutrient-rich compost applied to community greenspaces. The CO2 generated during fermentation carbonates their taproom seltzer water.
Ethical choices guide more than just operations. All employees receive full benefits, ample family leave time, and salaries warranted by NYC’s high cost of living. This allows their diverse staff the freedom to live vibrant, balanced lives.
While navigating impressive growth, the partners refuse to compromise the values-based vision that makes Mujeres Brew House special. They aim to raise the tide for all – not just themselves.
Conclusion
Mujeres Brew House demonstrates how diversity and inclusion enables craft beer culture to thrive, empowering women and people of color to unleash dynamic innovation. Through ethical business practices, community collaborations, and education pathways, they actively break down barriers holding marginalized groups back.
Most importantly, Mujeres sets an example for the broader industry on balancing passion with compassion. They lift up partners and neighbors simultaneously as business grows, staying grounded in fierce Bronx roots and proud Latina identity. Mujeres Brew House pours their heart into producing distinguished beer, nurturing talent, and progressing diversity – refreshing craft beer one pint at a time.
Their inspiring vision makes the future of craft beer look beautifully bright and flavorfully bold. Cheers to that!
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