In breweries from Birmingham to Brisbane, from craft beer taprooms in Portland to farmhouse ale producers in Belgium, women are gathering around mash tuns and fermentation vessels on 8 March. They are not just making beer — they are making a statement. International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) brings women in the beer industry together on International Women’s Day to brew collaboratively, raise funds for women’s causes, and challenge the persistent gender imbalance in one of the world’s oldest trades.
The Story Behind International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day
International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day was founded in 2014 by Sophie de Ronde, a brewing technologist and Head Brewer at Burnt Mill Brewery in Suffolk, England. De Ronde created the event to provide women working in beer — and those brewing at home — with a dedicated day to come together, share skills, and demonstrate their presence in an industry that remains overwhelmingly male-dominated. Women make up less than 20% of the UK brewing workforce, and the figure is similar across most major beer-producing nations.
The concept was simple but powerful: on 8 March, International Women’s Day, breweries around the world would open their doors to collaborative brew days, inviting women of all experience levels to participate in the brewing process. The beers produced would be sold to raise money for women’s charities. De Ronde coordinated the event for its first ten years, building it from a handful of UK breweries into a global movement spanning dozens of countries.
In 2024, stewardship of IWCBD was passed to Women On Tap CIC, a Community Interest Company dedicated to supporting women in the beer industry. Under their leadership, the campaign has continued to grow. The 2025 edition featured 61 brew days across the world, with 837 participants producing 66 different beers and raising an impressive GBP 26,921 for 44 women’s causes globally. For 2026, the theme is “UNITE BELONGING,” reflecting the event’s core mission of creating spaces where women feel they truly belong in brewing.
The history of women in brewing is far longer than most people realise. For centuries before industrialisation, brewing was primarily women’s work. In medieval England, “alewives” brewed and sold ale from their homes. In ancient Mesopotamia, the beer goddess Ninkasi was female, and Sumerian hymns to her included what may be the oldest known beer recipe. It was only with the rise of commercial breweries in the 18th and 19th centuries that brewing became a predominantly male occupation. IWCBD is, in many ways, a reclaiming of a tradition that women pioneered.
When and Where is IWCBD Celebrated?
International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day takes place on Sunday, 8 March 2026, coinciding with International Women’s Day. Events are held at breweries, brewpubs, and community spaces in countries across the globe, including the United Kingdom, United States, Australia, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, and many more. The official IWCBD website lists participating breweries and events each year.
Traditions and Customs
IWCBD has developed a number of traditions that give the event its distinctive character.
- Collaborative brew days at local breweries — The centrepiece of IWCBD. Breweries open their doors and invite women to participate in every stage of the brewing process, from milling grain to pitching yeast. Experienced brewers work alongside complete beginners, creating a supportive and educational environment.
- Charity fundraising through beer sales — The beers produced on IWCBD are sold in the weeks following, with proceeds donated to women’s charities chosen by each participating brewery. Causes range from domestic violence support services to girls’ education programmes.
- The IWCBD online Level 1 Award in Beer — IWCBD offers donated places on an accredited beer knowledge qualification, helping women build credentials in the industry. In 2026, the number of donated places has been increased from 18 to 30.
- A new bursary for travel costs — Recognising that attending a brew day can involve travel expenses, IWCBD 2026 introduces a new bursary providing direct financial support to participants who would otherwise be unable to attend.
- Social media storytelling — Participants share their experiences throughout the day using the hashtag #IWCBD, creating a real-time global tapestry of women brewing together. The photos, videos, and stories from brew days around the world are a powerful demonstration of the community’s reach.
Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day
There are many ways to get involved, whether or not you have brewing experience.
- Join a brew day near you — Visit the IWCBD website (unitebrew.org) to find participating breweries in your area. No experience is necessary — the whole point is to learn, collaborate, and have fun.
- Buy an IWCBD beer — Look for IWCBD collaboration beers at your local brewery or bottle shop in the weeks following 8 March. Every purchase supports a women’s charity.
- Support women-owned breweries — Use the day as a prompt to seek out and support breweries founded, owned, or led by women. Your patronage makes a tangible difference.
- Learn about brewing history — Read about the alewives, the Sumerian beer goddess Ninkasi, and the long history of women in brewing that predates the modern industry by millennia.
- Donate to Women On Tap CIC — The organisation coordinating IWCBD relies on community support to fund bursaries, educational places, and campaign costs.
- Share and amplify — Even if you cannot attend a brew day, sharing IWCBD content on social media using #IWCBD and #IWCBD2026 helps raise the event’s profile and reach new participants.
Facts and Figures
- The 2025 IWCBD campaign featured 61 brew days, 837 participants, and 66 beers, raising GBP 26,921 for 44 women’s causes worldwide.
- Women make up less than 20% of the UK brewing industry workforce, and the figure is similar in most major beer-producing countries.
- In medieval England, most beer was brewed by women known as “alewives” who sold ale from their homes. The pointed hat on an alewife’s sign is thought by some historians to be the origin of the “witch’s hat” stereotype.
- The earliest known reference to brewing is a Sumerian poem honouring Ninkasi, the goddess of beer, dating to approximately 1800 BCE.
- IWCBD was founded in 2014 by Sophie de Ronde, Head Brewer at Burnt Mill Brewery in Suffolk, England.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day?
IWCBD is an annual global event on 8 March where women gather at breweries to brew beer collaboratively, raise funds for women’s charities, and promote gender equality in the beer industry.
When is IWCBD in 2026?
Sunday, 8 March 2026, on International Women’s Day.
Do I need brewing experience to participate?
No. IWCBD brew days are designed to be inclusive and welcoming to all experience levels, from complete beginners to professional brewers.
Spread the Word
Share International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day with your community using #IWCBD and #IWCBD2026. Whether you mark the occasion by joining a brew day, buying a collaboration beer, or simply raising a glass to the women who have shaped brewing for millennia, every bit of awareness helps build a more inclusive industry.
Related Awareness Days
- International Women’s Day — Also on 8 March, the global celebration of women’s achievements that IWCBD is timed to honour.
- National Mulled Wine Day — Celebrated on 3 March, another beverage-focused awareness day with cultural roots.
- National Absinthe Day — Observed on 5 March, celebrating the history and craft of a storied spirit.
Links
Related Events
March 3 - March 4
March 3
March 3
March 3
