Today we’d like to introduce you to Kristine Baker.
Kristine, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
With my interest in Craft Beer growing exponentially many years ago, I naturally wanted all my friends to join in on my brewery visits and explorations! In January of 2013, I decided to make it more formal and started with planned monthly educational meet-ups in local breweries. That is when we became the Women’s Craft Beer Collective!
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The beer community as a whole is very welcoming. The climate has definitely changed over the past 6 years, however! Many more women have entered into the business of beer from when I first started out. For any woman wanting to find her place in the beer industry, I would suggest saturating yourself in all aspects… studies, home brewing, bottle shares, even hop growing! The Women’s Craft Beer Collective is here for anyone wanting to engage in beer conversation… we love to nerd out on beer talk!
Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Women’s Craft Beer Collective – what should we know?
To be even closer to beer, I have been working as a beer-server all these years, and currently WO-man the taps at Culture Brewing Co. I think I have also gained a reputation as being the “crafty” craft beer lover because of my DIY fetish, and very popular DIY workshop events that usually take place in breweries, but always involve beer! Along with that, I have created a line of merchandise for the woman beer lover that includes jewelry, glassware, fashion and home decor! There is a store on my website at www.womenscraftbeercollective.com as well as the ETSY shop at Womensbeercollective.
So much of the media coverage is focused on the challenges facing women today, but what about the opportunities? Do you feel there are any opportunities that women are particularly well positioned for?
I am often asked about the prejudices women encounter when seeking to enter the beer industry, particularly the brewing and production side. Here, in San Diego, we have a tremendous support system in the Pink Boots Society and all the amazing trailblazing women brewers who have paved the way for us! Their numbers are growing and a brewers sex is seldom even a subject to be considered, but we have one exceptional beer community here and I am loving every minute of it! Hopefully, each time we gather, I will see new enthusiastic faces who want to learn and have fun to enjoy beer and all San Diego and North San Diego have to offer, along with the rest of us! Cheers!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.womenscraftbeercollective.com/
- Phone: 951 255-8790
- Email: Womenscraftbeercollective@gmail.com
- Instagram: @womensbeercollective
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/womenscraftbeercollective/
- Twitter: @Womenscraftbeer
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