All of the breweries at Betty’s Beer Fest employ women in key roles throughout their companies – from the brewery floor to leadership and management roles, even brewery owners. Our Industry Professionals represent a great cross section of craft beer-related jobs. These women bring a vast amount of knowledge to Betty’s Beer Fest and we are excited to learn from and be inspired by them!

Breweries

14th Star Brewing – (St. Albans, VT) –  Whether you’re having a pint of Valor Ale at a local restaurant or pub or getting a taste from their booth at Betty’s Beer Fest, you will be able to taste the pride and effort that goes into making 14th Star beers. They recently just hosted a Women’s Day beer event of their own which featured the Release of their “Gose Just Wanna Have Fun” beer brewed by the the 14th Star ladies! Webpage | Facebook

Brazo Fuerte Artisanal Beer – (Watertown, MA)  – Brazo Fuerte Artisanal Beer (BFAB) is a new craft beer company that brews world-class, full-flavored session beers for active, passionate beer drinkers who enjoy the social aspects of sharing a “hard-earned” beer with friends after a day of activity and who care about the quality of what’s in the glass. Webpage | Facebook

Citizen Cider (Burlington, VT) – These cider makers love to take fresh local apples and ferment them into delicious, refreshing, dynamic, clean and fulfilling cider! They have many women working a variety of jobs at their facility,  including brewers! Webpage | Facebook

Groennfell Meadery – (Colchester, VT) Groennfell Meadery brews craft mead which is available throughout the state of Vermont in cans, bottles, and on draft wherever fine craft beverages are sold. Their meads are perfect for craft beverage fans: with light carbonation, single-digit alcohol content, and a dry finish, they are smooth and supremely drinkable. Webpage | Facebook

Hogback Brewing (Bristol, VT)  -Hogback Brewery is  a hyper-local nanobrewery in Bristol, Vermont with a barrel and a half brewhouse, fermenting out at three barrels. They teamed up this year with the Pink Boots Society to brew not one, but two of PBS’ collaboration brews. They brought in three female brewers and will serve their offerings at Betty’s! Webpage | Facebook

Simple Roots Brewing – (Burlington, VT) – Simple Roots Brewing is husband and wife team Dan Ukolowicz and Kara Pawlusiak. Dan homebrewed for close to fifteen years and shared his beer with family and friends and then decided to take the next step by enrolling at the American Brewers Guild in Salisbury, VT.  Simple Roots is about life’s simple pleasures like hanging out with friends and family while playing cards or lawn games and of course drinking great, subtle, quaffable beer! Or as they like to say, “Making memories one beer at a time.”  Webpage | Facebook

Switchback Brewing Company (Burlington, VT) – The Switchback Brewing Company was founded in 2002 by Bill Cherry and his longtime friend, Jeff. They brought on their ‘second employee,’ Gretchen Langfeldt in 2005. Fast forward to today and after years of constant expansion they have five rotating specials in addition to their flagship Pale Ale, a beautiful new tasting room and a solidified place as one of the foremost breweries in Vermont. Webpage | Facebook

Industry Professionals

Anne Duany – Lifelong Vermonter, homebrewer for 27 years, Anne is a nationally ranked Homebrew judge with lots of ribbons for her own homebrews: Vermont Homebrewer of the year once, MCAB(Master Championship of Amateur Brewing medalist twice).  Most recently her Homebrew from the 2015 Make the Cut competition was brewed at 14th Star Brewery. She lives in Essex Jct with her husband Matt.  They have owned Vermont Homebrew Supply in Winooski for over 22 years.

Kristen Sykes – Kristen Sykes is the President and Founder of the Boston Area Beer Enthusiasts Society (BABES) a women’s beer club, which she has run for 4 1/2 years. She is an instructor at the University of Vermont – Business of Craft Beer Program. In 2009 she became a certified Beer Judge through the Beer Judge Certification Program and has been home brewing for more than 15 years. She is also the former Executive Director of the Massachusetts Brewers Guild.

Elizabeth (Liz) L’toile –  Liz married into the L’Etoile family and is the Director of Sales and Marketing for Form Star Farms Inc,  a sustainable family farm in Western Massachusetts providing locally grown grains, freshly milled flour, hops and turf. Using her social work background Liz strives to create strong and long lasting relationships with their customers; expand their sales potential across various industries; and educate consumers on the benefits of buying food locally.

Pink Boots Society – The Pink Boots Society was created to empower women beer professionals to advance their careers in the Beer Industry through Education. Their Vermont Chapter is run by Brucie Donahue who will be at Betty’s!

Vermont Brewers Association – The VBA was founded in 1995 to promote and strengthen the culture of craft brewing in Vermont through marketing, educating and advocating for Vermont made beer. They will have a booth at Betty’s promoting all the states breweries with their Passport Program, as well as promoting safe consumption practices!

Indy Ewald – Co owner of the new Vermont distributing company, Vermont Beer Shepherd, Indy has a strong passion for beer. She is also the owner of the yoga studio, Indy Yoga. She will bring her knowledge and expertise as well as a very distinct calm and centered energy to our Betty’s Educational sessions.

House Bar

The Betty’s Beer Fest House Bar features beers from breweries who weren’t able to attend in person. 

Brooklyn Brewery – (Brooklyn,NY) – The portfolio of Brooklyn Brewery has grown to a wide-ranging collection of beers, always keeping an eye to traditional brewing techniques. Today, the Brooklyn Brewery is continuing to thrive, spreading good beer around the world. Their staff is chock full of women in a variety of job types. We are excited to have their beer at Betty’s!

Drop In Brewing (Middlebury, VT) –  After working one summer in a beer supply store Vilija Bizinkauskas, known also as V,   discovered her love for the chemistry of brewing and found herself working for Cape Cod Beer. Once she stepped foot in the brewery she felt she was home and hasn’t looked back since. As the Lead Brewers at Drop In Brewing, V brings her energy and passion for brewing to Vermont.

Fiddlehead Brewing – (Shelburne, VT) – Fiddlehead’s mission is to produce full flavored beers with the true beer connoisseur in mind.  General Manager Rachel Cleveland has been a big part of the company, even participating in a collaboration brew with Pink Boots Society in 2015.

Frost Beer Works – (Hinesburg, VT) – At Frost, beer is their passion. Owners Christina Frost and her husband, Garin, and their crew are committed to using top-notch raw materials and effective brewery processes to produce delicious, well-balanced beers.

Stone Corral – (Richmond, VT) – The Stone Corral is a craft micro brewery making classic and original beers. Their taproom also hosts a regular live music schedule so whether you just want to sit and have a pint and listen to tunes or move to some foot stompin bluegrass, you’ll have the opportunity.

Zero Gravity  (South Burlington, VT) – Head Brewer Destiny Saxon has been with Zero Gravity for a long time and her commitment to her work is evident in every sip of Zero Gravity’s brews.  Zero Gravity recently expanded and now has to locations: The new brewery and tasting room on Pine Street in South Burlington, and their original location in American Flatbread, where Saxon continues to brew.