Upon renting our red bikes that scream look-at-me-I'm-a-tourist-with-no-idea-how-dutch-cycle-laws-work, we were informed of a well-known brewery, Brouwerij 't IJ. This hadn't been my first visit to Amsterdam and it hadn't been my first rodeo at this brewery. Although the cliche of being in Amsterdam in the summer, sippin' on some Dutch brews next to a windmill while locals smoke splifs is perhaps somewhat unbearable, I still had a child-like excitement of going. Since the husband had never been we put it on our list of must-visit breweries.
Several failed attempts of visiting later, we decided to go when the brewery would actually be open. The inside felt familiar and after a rundown of Dutch vocabulary from Tara, I was ready to order what would be a most delicious raspberry sour.
For those who don't know, I have a love for bizarre flavors, sours, fruits, and spices in my beer. Don't give me an IPA. Don't give me a pale ale. Ok, give me a pale ale on a hot summer day. But if I'm going somewhere different you betcha I'll be trying something different.
This bartender had no idea what type of palette I had. He had no way of knowing that a small, female American had a love and respect for sour beers. He had no idea that I have this website. And that I brew.
But his question caught me off guard --it made me wonder if something subconsciously was brewing (pun intended) in his mind.
"Could I have the [sour], please?"
"You do know that's a sour beer...... right?"
[Awkward Pause]
"Yeahhhhh."
What really should have come out of my mouth was "Yeah, why else would I order it if it weren't a sour?"
There was an air of judgement in his question, one that may have been a language barrier but somehow it's doubtful.
Upon my return from the states I came across an article in Slate touching on the microbrewery industry and it's subtle yet apparent sexism. Beers like "Raging Bitch" and "Pearl Necklace" with uncouth looking dogs gracing the labels of their bottles make me wonder in which decade we reside. At what point does an entity such as a company decide that it's ok to place suggestive and disrespectful images that so clearly point to objectifying women?
More and more women are not only drinking in beer, but brewing beer and owning companies. We have societies such as the Pink Boots to help promote and network with female brewers in the industry. We have breweries like the Golden Road Brewery in LA, owned by Meg Gill who at the time of 27 was the youngest female brewery owner. And you know what? She's killing it.
So next time, Mr. Bartender, when you question if a woman knows what a sour is... please think about why you are even bothering to ask that question. We ladies love our beer!
