Talk about women helping women.
B.C.’s only all-female-run craft brewery is releasing a new beer for International Women’s Day that is named after a woman who helped shape Barkerville during the Cariboo Gold Rush, can ease symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and will raise money for women’s cancer research.
Barkerville Brewing Co. hosted its third annual collaboration brew day in honour of International Women’s Day Friday, Feb. 21. Barkerville Brewing Co. invited industry partners, colleagues from the northern craft brewery scene and anyone interested in learning more about small-batch craft brewing for a fun day in the brewhouse.
This year’s International Women’s Day collaboration brew is one that Barkerville Brewing’s head brewer, Erin Dale, has been working on for several years. Adding rosehips, yarrow, juniper berries and chamomile to the brew, she has created a gruit that can ease the symptoms of PMS.
These plants were selected for their combined ability to reduce inflammation, cramping and bloating, improve circulation, relieve stress and anxiety and regulate hormones — benefits the brewery feels can help men and women alike.
General manager Justine Pelletier says they have served a couple different test batches of this recipe to patrons at various beer events over the past couple years to wild praise, so they it’s time to bring this brew to market.
Dale says a gruit is a beer with no hops. Herbs would be used for their antibacterial qualities and bittering quality, which is what hops do, and historically, regions would have their own gruit, she explained.
Barkerville Brewing Co.’s gruit is named after the brewery staff’s favourite female character at Barkerville Historic Town and Park, Miss Florence Wilson. Aunt Florence will be available in 650-millilitre and will be available in Quesnel, Williams Lake and Prince George in time for International Women’s Day on March 8.
Part proceeds from the sale of this beer will be donated to Ovarian Cancer Canada and ovarian cancer research.
In years past, Barkerville Brewing Co. has donated part proceeds from its collaboration brews to the Pink Boots Society, but this year, they wanted to bring a little more equality to their fundraising efforts, as they raise money for Movember in support of men’s health every year.
“We thought we should do something for women for International Women’s Day,” said Pelletier. “The beer is named after Florence Wilson, and we’ve been wanting to make this beer for like three years, the PMS beer. We’re very, very excited about it. Erin’s been perfecting this recipe for about three years, and to name it after Florence Wilson, who has such an epic story and to call it Aunt Florence, it’s just perfect.”
Pelletier got in touch with Wilson’s descendants in Australia, and they gave their blessing and even provided a photo of Florence Wilson for the label. The label tells Wilson’s story, has calligraphy from the 1800s and has a replica of Wilson’s gold claim stamp from Barkerville.
“We just wanted to tell her story and pay homage to Florence because she was such a woman before her time, really,” said Pelletier. “And obviously a women-run brewery, we love the idea that we can drink a beer and alleviate cramps and bloating, so we’re all very, very excited to put out this beer. This is our third year doing a collaboration brew, but it’s special because it’s finally Florence, and we’re donating to ovarian cancer research.”
READ MORE: Quesnel’s Barkerville Brewing Co. collaborating on another Pink Boots brew
editor@quesnelobserver.com
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
