Spicy Roasted Chickpeas
Picnic Recipes Galore
Corner-Store Party Food on the Fly
9 Chili Recipes, Bison to Vegan
How to Choose the Best Strawberries
Sausage Recipes of the Month
Sure, beer is caloric, but women eat lots of caloric foods. Why just the other day, I saw a woman eating a brownie. So why don’t women drink beer as much as men do, when it is delicious, less expensive than wine, and doesn’t stain your couch?
I have a theory: dude-centric beer names and labels. In some cases, the labels feel like a Goth dude designed them, but still a dude is my point.
Take for instance this label: the Double Dragonfly Imperial IPA. Do chicks want to drink out of a bottle depicting a naked dragonfly girl getting done from behind? I ask you.
Well how about Big Mamie Battleship Ale, whose press release reads: “As you might expect for a beer with a battleship as its inspiration, it’s bigger than our normal ales. We’re brewing this big babe next week.” Sign me up!
But wait, how about Stone brewing company’s big, beefy demon (top of the post)? I’ll bet he calls out to the ladies from the shelves of better beer stores. That is, if they’re not already coveting a sixer of Troutslayer from Big Sky Brewing Company.
I'm not saying wrap your beer in a pink label. Maybe just a little less storm trooper and more emo. You might sell more beer, ya know?
The ladies could always drink Pretty Things (http://www.prettythingsbeertoday.com) although I'm a guy and have been known to down a few of their brews in one sitting.
You can't have your beer and drink it, too.
On one hand, you're saying that women like craft beer, despite men being seen as the stereotypicel beer drinker. You're essentially saying that beer drinkers should not be stereotyped by gender. But on the other hand, you're criticizing these "manly" designs as if there should be one aesthetic for a man and one for a woman. As a man, I don't look for...+READ
You can't have your beer and drink it, too.
On one hand, you're saying that women like craft beer, despite men being seen as the stereotypicel beer drinker. You're essentially saying that beer drinkers should not be stereotyped by gender. But on the other hand, you're criticizing these "manly" designs as if there should be one aesthetic for a man and one for a woman. As a man, I don't look for battleships or gargoyles when deciding what beer to purchase. And if the comments above are any indication, I don't think many women do, either.
More craft beer drinkers -- male and female alike -- are doing their research online before buying beers. Craft beer drinkers, I think, do a bit more research than the person who grabs a six-pack of Natty Light and walks out, and thus are prepared to make a decision without going by the label.-COLLAPSE
Women in the UK drink, hard cider, Babycham, whiskey & coke, etc... all which have loads of calories. This research is highly suspect and lacking credibility. Women don't drink beer because few have had access to craft beer (especially in the UK) and/or lack knowledge of the many styles available that have ***FLAVOR***! - Something woefully lacking in the "Fizzy Yellow Beer" manufactured my...+READ
Women in the UK drink, hard cider, Babycham, whiskey & coke, etc... all which have loads of calories. This research is highly suspect and lacking credibility. Women don't drink beer because few have had access to craft beer (especially in the UK) and/or lack knowledge of the many styles available that have ***FLAVOR***! - Something woefully lacking in the "Fizzy Yellow Beer" manufactured my Molson/Coors.
I am a female Craft Beer Lover and I hope to see many more female craft beer drinkers come on board in my lifetime. Stop letting the macro-brewed beer corporations tell you what is best for your taste or your waist. Go out and explore the various styles available from craft brewers. Learn about the many different styles of beer.
I have no issues with labels that could be construed as dominant and FYI...there are tons of craft beers with non-masculine names. Lost Abbey Angel's Share, Cascade Brewing Sang Rouge, The Bruery Oude Tart, Russian River Temptation and Nebraska Brewing Melange a Trois to name just a few.
Women (and men for that matter) in the UK...Demand choices! Become a fan of BrewDog from Scotland and embrace their extreme marketing. I for one think they are brilliant and I hope they continue on this path. Don't "settle" for anyone telling you what you like. The Craft Beer Revolution is creeping into Europe. Join the cause!-COLLAPSE
Actually, I prefer to buy beers at the LCBO because I can get Air Miles and I'm not going for the commercial monopoly. Rather the government than the big 3.
Historically, brewing beer and running a pub were among some of the few professions that were acceptable for women to pursue in the Western World.
I think the marketing of brands like Stone brewery (love love love Arrogant Bastard, though could barely drink it the first time I tried) and others in similar veins are more hilarious than anything else.
I wish that there was another brand with...+READ
Historically, brewing beer and running a pub were among some of the few professions that were acceptable for women to pursue in the Western World.
I think the marketing of brands like Stone brewery (love love love Arrogant Bastard, though could barely drink it the first time I tried) and others in similar veins are more hilarious than anything else.
I wish that there was another brand with less male-centric marketing were thrown in the article for contrast, such as Ninkasi. Some of the names are metal band inspired and others are hilarious, with names including Spring Reign, Total Domination and Tricerahops.
One of the best ways to try new beers outside of a bar (in Portland, anyway) is to hand a friend $5 and ask for a 22oz with a funny name.
But anyhow, I'm female and like strongly-flavored beers. If I'm just wanting to drink for social reasons though, I go for cheap but I try to always start with something good.-COLLAPSE
The typical male and female are bio-evolutionary opposites, therefore social behaviors such as drinking are typically opposite, and have much less to do with marketing. Women expect men to be the social/sexual initiators as well as socially dominant/high/alpha status - and thus men have far more pressure to be macho whether we like it or not. Alcohol and drinking alleviate this pressure somewhat,...+READ
The typical male and female are bio-evolutionary opposites, therefore social behaviors such as drinking are typically opposite, and have much less to do with marketing. Women expect men to be the social/sexual initiators as well as socially dominant/high/alpha status - and thus men have far more pressure to be macho whether we like it or not. Alcohol and drinking alleviate this pressure somewhat, i.e. social courage, bolstering of masculinity, etc. Women don't have this pressure, and therefore no reason to "need" to drink as much, therefore no culture built around a non-existent need.
Also, marketers play to gender stereotypes because they're mostly correct, and their goal is to make money by appealing to the tastes of the vast majority, even if it means offending the minority/atypicals - who mostly still fit the stereotypes themselves while not admitting it (even liberal/feminist women are heavily dependent upon male chivalry to achieve their so-called "independence", and make frequent appeals to traditionalist male sentiment).-COLLAPSE
"Why just the other day, I saw a woman eating a brownie." Hilarious.
I agree with Beaglesmuggler (kudos for the really rad username) that a lot of ladies who drink beer don't drink it because the mainstream beers (let's just start calling them the lame-stream beers) are clearly marketed toward dudes. Also, quite frankly, they're not very tasty.
Most craft brewers do a fine job of having...+READ
"Why just the other day, I saw a woman eating a brownie." Hilarious.
I agree with Beaglesmuggler (kudos for the really rad username) that a lot of ladies who drink beer don't drink it because the mainstream beers (let's just start calling them the lame-stream beers) are clearly marketed toward dudes. Also, quite frankly, they're not very tasty.
Most craft brewers do a fine job of having non-gender-specific labeling and marketing (see: Sierra Nevada, Lagunitas, Deschutes, Harpoon, etc.). All are delicious beers with interesting and unique artwork.
But I probably wouldn't buy a beer with a label that looked like it was inspired by a poster in some stoner's room at a frat house or a Magic-the-Gathering and porn mashup (no diss). My thinking is that if they have such terrible taste in their label--the one image that is the most important in conveying their brand to the beer-buying public--they're probably equally clueless about what makes a good beer.-COLLAPSE
I am a female craft beer drinker. I have a sincere love and appreciation for beers, and labels don't stop me from purchasing. I find that many of the craft beers with low-budget or kind of cheesy looking labels are, in fact, the best ones. They're made by people with the right interests at heart--what's inside the bottle counts for a lot more than what's outside (examples: Left Hand and Ballast...+READ
I am a female craft beer drinker. I have a sincere love and appreciation for beers, and labels don't stop me from purchasing. I find that many of the craft beers with low-budget or kind of cheesy looking labels are, in fact, the best ones. They're made by people with the right interests at heart--what's inside the bottle counts for a lot more than what's outside (examples: Left Hand and Ballast Point).
I remember a night where I was having some difficulty figuring out what I felt like drinking. The bartender, without asking, brought me a taste of a wheat beer and a mild pale ale. I was incredibly offended by the assumptions he made about my preferences (not that I don't like wheat beers or mild pale ales, but they have their times and places--like a BBQ in August, not a crisp night in November). Being a woman in a beer bar does not make me clueless. I ordered one of my favorite beers that also happened to send a message to the bartender- Stone Arrogant Bastard.
P.S. A dragonfruit and green tea beer sounds gross.-COLLAPSE
I'm female and not a beer drinker, but when a friend drank a bottle of Stone's at my place I liked the demon on the bottle so much that the bottle's still on top of my fridge. Tried the beer....hated it. Way too bitter. I was drinking a sweet coctail (Fuze pina colada and rum), which made it even worse, but...
Then again, I have three devil/demon tattoos, so I'm probably not the typical girl.
As a girl who loves beer, works next door to a brewery co-run by a woman, and has brewed with my boyfriend, I have to take issue with the attitude in this article. Not only do I know plenty of girls who love beer, but we also love the interesting, crazy and over-the-top labels. I think part of the gap is generational - I'm 22, and the women who are ten or even five years older than us didn't have...+READ
As a girl who loves beer, works next door to a brewery co-run by a woman, and has brewed with my boyfriend, I have to take issue with the attitude in this article. Not only do I know plenty of girls who love beer, but we also love the interesting, crazy and over-the-top labels. I think part of the gap is generational - I'm 22, and the women who are ten or even five years older than us didn't have the same widely-available, lovingly crafted beers in various styles. In my family, anyone ten years older who buys "special occasion" beer is purchasing Heineken. From my perspective, it's the American Lager and its frat-boy-piss setting and marketing that has alienated women in the past, and it's the craft beer movement that's been bringing women into the fold.-COLLAPSE
That is so interesting, Beaglesmuggler. Anecdotally, I have noticed that a lot of my female friends who aren't "into" beer in the same way I am, will say stuff like, "I do like dark beer." Perhaps it is that sometimes it's richer and sweeter, and feels like red wine or dark chocolate in that "treat" kind of way.
First on the Molsons thing and dear gawd what crap!
On the women & beer theory I think that's Molson's marketing department blowing smoke up their own behinds.
I agree with Lessley here, it really comes down to the advertising. From an industry perspective the Ontario Craft Brewers hit double digit growth for five years running in the LCBO when they figured out two things:
1. Women...+READ
First on the Molsons thing and dear gawd what crap!
On the women & beer theory I think that's Molson's marketing department blowing smoke up their own behinds.
I agree with Lessley here, it really comes down to the advertising. From an industry perspective the Ontario Craft Brewers hit double digit growth for five years running in the LCBO when they figured out two things:
1. Women buy more beer in the LCBO than men do, this seems to mainly be because it's a female-friendly shopping environment where women can see, touch and explore beers unlike the The Beer Store (TBS) where the beer is hidden behind a counter, and you have to walk up to a cleark and place your order which will be rolled out on a conveor belt.
2. If you focus beer at women as a category that can be explored, especially through food pairings, you'll have great success. See the OCB beer & BBQ series, seasonal series and parirings with top chefs.
The other reason to think that it's about advertising is simply look at the public health research. Advertising in the beer category has a direct co-relation to consumption.
Beer is simply an area that historically has not been marketed to women (see Bud girls). So, when craft brewers came on the scene some of them made the mistake of thinking that women don't drink or won't be interested in trying beer.
If you look at some of the most successful craft beer brands - here in Ontario I'd go Mill Stree, Muskoka, Great Lakes - they have great advertizing that is not alienating the men folk and is interesting and exploratory for women. In fact, we found that many women really like dark beers over light coloured beers. This is where Molson's is loosing out. Apparently from a taste profile most women don't like hops all that much. Once you can get the female demographic into the trial phase they find the sweeter malt tastes in many cases suit them better... now all you have to do is pair a dark chocolate malt with that brownie and you're off to a fairly sizeable female demographic.-COLLAPSE
The number of good, tasty beers made by small breweries in the U.S. seems to have eclipsed the number of good marketing ideas for them. With so many bottles on the shelves, craft brewers want to grab attention for their brews. This is understandable, particularly for those too new or too small to have gained recognition.
Good luck to them all.
Or you might lose many male drinkers and sell less beer, ya know?