N.B. Brewers Mark International Women’s Day With Limited Edition Sparkölsch
SAINT JOHN–Foghorn Brewing Company’s third annual International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day has once again led to the launch of its limited-edition beer, Sparkölsch, which is available March 4.
The collaboration comes ahead of International Women’s Day, March 8.
This year’s edition of Sparkölsch comes from women representing not only Foghorn Brewing Company, but also Saint John’s Big Tide Brewing Co., Loyalist City Brewing Co., Picaroons General Store, Sussex Ale Works, and Yip Cider, along with several women from the Witch Craft Beer Society in Saint John.
Sarah Tippett is a representative of Foghorn Brewing Company. She’s happy to see the collaboration stretch into its third year, after a successful launch of the original vintage brew in 2020.
“I think on the very first brew day that we hosted the feeling of the project that day was really exciting. I think we knew then that we were really on to something. Did I expect to be here? I hoped so,” she told Huddle.
Tippett described the original project coming from something she wanted to do when she first started at Foghorn to celebrate International Women’s Day and women in the industry.
“Brewing beer was traditionally spearheaded by women, first at home and then as those small batches grew into businesses,” she said.
“Wendy Papadopoulos from Big Tide Brewing has been making beer for over 25 years, so that was a good connection to make–and then Alyssa Donaldson at Loyalist City Brewing Company is another female head brewer,” Tippett said.
Together with Papadopoulos and Donaldson, Tippett held the inaugural collaboration brew in February of 2020. The first batch of Sparkölsch sold out in many locations within 48 hours of tapping the first keg.
Tippett says that, since then, more women from across the province have entered the craft brewing scene.
This year’s International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day event was attended by women who are not only brewers, but many more who support the marketing and sales functions of the breweries in New Brunswick, including managers of taprooms and members of a local women’s craft beer society.
Brew day started off bright and early on a Saturday and for Tippett and the brewers it was a chance to open up and give a sneak peek into how beer making really happens.
“Particularly for the women who were there on behalf of the beer society, it’s a look inside the production at a brewery level capacity,” Tippett said.
She added groups like the Witch Craft Beer Society, as enthusiasts, have their own events and often create brew beer on homebrew-type systems.
Proceeds from sales support programming for women
Tippett, Papadopoulos, and Donaldson believe it’s important the Women’s Collaboration Brew Day beer celebrate not just women in the industry, but women in the larger community.
Since the beginning of the Sparkölsch collaboration in 2020, the group has donated proceeds from the sale of each pint, growler fill, and bottle to programs supporting women in the Greater Saint John area.
Through the United Way of Saint John Kings And Charlotte’s Quarter Club, the money goes to programs that invest in solutions to break the cycle of domestic violence and help women access mental health support.
“It’s a way for small businesses to gather and really use their platforms as a way to drive some good,” said Tippett. She recalled being part of some of United Way’s first meetings with local small businesses for its Quarter Club initiative back in 2020 and has watched the initiative grow with Foghorn’s involvement.
Limited brew expected to go fast
In addition to being offered on draught at many Saint John taprooms, a limited number of bottles will also be available for purchase at Foghorn Brewing Company, Big Tide Brewing Co., Loyalist City Brewing Co., Graystone Brewing Co., Picaroons General Store, Red Rover Craft Cider, Sussex Ale Works, and Yip Cider.
Tippett said if history has been any indicator, the Sparkölsch bottles are likely to sell fast–though this time around the brewers have adjusted production.
“We’ve kind of changed the split of how much goes into kegs and how much goes into bottles, just based on the lineups that were outside of the locations that had bottles the first time and last year,” said Tippett.
Tyler Mclean is a Huddle reporter based in Fredericton. Send him your feedback and story ideas: [email protected].