WHAT WE DO
Less than 3% of breweries are owned solely by women. In the hospitality industry, women are 51.2% of the workforce, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The alcohol/beverage industry is predominantly male-owned and operated. In order to increase representation, there needs to be more resources, funding, and support for those underrepresented and underserved, which includes women, non-binary, BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ beverage industry professionals and creators within the space. More representation means more inclusive and safe spaces. Have you ever walked into a bar and seen no one who looks like you? Maybe it's all men? Or you look at a menu and see no women-owned businesses on it when you know there are a few locally who should be on it? Those are just a few examples of how the alcohol space continues to keep it exclusively to a certain consumer. All it takes are simple steps to create a more inclusive environment. With Women of the Bevolution, we are advocating for exactly that.
Women of the Bevolution is a social enterprise determined to provide resources and opportunities to women and non-binary beverage industry professionals. Our goal is to offer a platform meant to inspire and empower the underrepresented of the beverage industry to speak up, connect and break that damn glass ceiling.
Collectively we can create a better and more inclusive beverage and hospitality industry.
Let’s start a bevolution!
Women of the Bevolution’s values are centered around equity, accountability, transparency, resilience, collaboration, empathy, and constant learning.
HOW IT STARTED…
Women of the Bevolution was founded by Ash Eliot (she/her/hers) in the summer of 2019. Her journey in the craft beer and hospitality industry officially started in fall 2018 right after making a career change. With 10+ years of experience in the music industry at record labels and agencies, she made the move into craft beer by working festivals and helping new breweries launch in Los Angeles. It wasn’t easy making a career change and stepping into a new industry though it shared many similiarities to the music industry especially when it came to the lack of diversity and resources and support for women and non-binary folks. While she was still trying to learn all she could about the craft beer industry at the time, she was also still working on music projects and felt there wasn’t enough resources for women like her trying to break into the industry, learn and connect with other women. That’s when she decided to launch something of her own in hopes of connecting with women in the industry and creating a safe space to learn, collaborate and share our love of all things beverage-related. What initially started as a networking platform has now evolved into so much more.
Since, as the platform has grown and involved, we’ve had several milestones including:
The Brave Noise Global Beer Collaboration & Initiative - launched in 2021, Women of the Bevolution teamed up with Brienne Allan (former brewer at Notch Brewing and now co-owner and brewer at Sacred Profane Brewing) who ignited a #MeToo movement in craft beer after sharing her own story about sexism within the industry and called out to her Instagram followers if they had experienced discrimination in their work. Thousands replied and women around the globe shared their own personal stories in the beer industry. Ash and Brienne launched the Brave Noise global beer collaboration and initiative with a goal of a safe and discrimination-free beer industry. The collab was launched on July 7th, 2021 to honor those who have shared their stories and request action by asking breweries to be transparent with their policies/values, commit to the long-term work and brew the Brave Noise Pale Ale with a majority of proceeds supporting a charity or advocacy group dedicated to creating safe and inclusive spaces.
Over $50,000 in funding to nonprofits through the Antisexist Antiracist Proequality Beer Club
Over $41,000 in financial aid and resources including mental health support, job coaching and legal services through the Bevolution Brave Voices Fund, a collaboration with Another Round Another Rally
Over $23,000 in monetary support and 30+ hours of mentorship have been provided to 18 women & non-binary beverage industry professionals through the Bevolution Creators in Bev Grant (a collab with Beer is for Everyone) and Creator Launchpad Grant (a collab with Beer Kulture, Brave Noise and Brienne Allen) .
Over $150K has been raised for nonprofits around the world through the Brave Noise global beer/alcohol collaboration advocating for safe and inclusive spaces in beer/bev/alcohol.