44 WWW.CHARLESTONWOMENPODCAST.COM | WWW.READCW.COM | WWW.INSTAGRAM.COM/CHARLESTONWOMEN tions made it evident how empowering this brewing community in Charleston truly is. Lopez explained, “There are so many organizations dedicated to creating spaces and opportunities for women to take on a more active role in the beer community. They all have the same goal – to support other women, give each other a leg up and help us find our place in a sea of bearded men.” Lapp expounded, “In Charleston, I’ve seen the women in the beer industry build a really supportive network. We stay in touch, go to events together, share ideas, offer advice and genuinely root for one another. Rather than viewing each other as competition, we’ve created a community where collaboration feels natural.” And somehow all the positivity and support is seemingly bottled up as the secret ingredient. If you want in, simply pull up a chair. Volunteer. Ask questions. Explore your curiosity. Follow your heart and keep learning about beer. Perhaps Senn put it best: “Jump in and stay curious. Don’t let what you don’t know intimidate you. Trust your instincts, work hard and keep figuring things out.” As a consumer, it’s easy to focus on the end product of brewing, but there is a science and a certain finesse to crafting the perfect beer. Behind every can, there’s engineering, chemistry, hospitality, operations, event planning, marketing, community building, quality control and production. These women are balancing each task with passion, curiosity and a natural desire to continue learning. Without question Charleston’s beer industry is continually evolving. New styles will come to the forefront. Trends will rise and fall. But if these stories point us to one thing, it’s this: great beer was never intended to just be about what’s in the glass. It’s the people who make it great. Women belong in beer, and we have more than earned our right to be in the brew house. Angelica Lopez, Assistant brewer at Rusty Bull Brewing Co.
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