The Great British Beer Festival opens this week and runs from 7-11 August at Earl’s Court. Why am I telling you about this on Dollymix? Well, I’ve been to the beer festival a few times since moving to London in 2001 and let me tell you, men outnumber women by what seems to be about 20 to 1. Reading that off-the-top-of-my-head statistic you might be thinking one of two things. Either a) wahey! It’s a great place to meet blokes! or b) why don’t they encourage more women to attend?
Why indeed? I’ve never felt encouraged by the press or by the good people at CAMRA (Campaign for Real Ale) to attend. It’s been my own interest in beer that’s got me there in the past, but this year all that looks set to change as CAMRA says that women drinkers are the future of real ale! Click through below for more.
Yes, new research just in and hot off the press from CAMRA suggests that 8 out of 10 women have never tried real ale in a pub and CAMRA is calling on brewers to make beers more appealing to women. CAMRA suggests the successful Cyclops scheme and stylish glassware could attract more women to real ale. Now then, I understand the sylish glassware bit, and hey yes, it’d work for me but what’s this Cyclops thing? Well, apparently, it’s a scheme which describes in lay-woman’s terms what a beer will look, smell and taste like. It also gives a mark out of five for sweetness and bitterness.
Paula Waters said: “Since its launch at the Great British Beer Festival the Cyclops scheme has gone from strength to strength and now covers over 250 real ales. Breweries that adopt the scheme will find it helps attract women to try beer by demystifying often complex and challenging flavours. If we can get women to try real ales and find a style they like, there will be no going back. The Great British Beer Festival is a perfect place to get started.”
I agree. It's not all pint pots of swill with daft names, you know, there are some wonderful fruity and light beers too. And so now, dear Dollymix reader, I’m calling on you to do you bit for equality! Get out there, get down to Earl's Court and go drink some nice beer this week. [Flaming Nora]