A Woman’s Brew

We’re heading back to South Wales for part two of our brewery adventure with our friend Ruth, and this time we’re exploring the area around Caerphilly, Abergavenny, Crickhowell and the Black Mountains. We start with Dark Element Brew Co and a seriously hoppy, fruity beer that has us talking about what we actually mean when we describe a beer as “hoppy”. Then we move on to Antur Brewery and discover a very different approach to brewing, with well-balanced, modern takes on classic styles — and plenty of reasons why this part of Wales deserves to be on your beer travel list.
 
And because apparently beer isn’t enough, we also go down the cider, wine, mead and spirits rabbit hole! We try a Foxwhelp cider from Sobremesa, talk extensively about our desperate need for cheese and charcuterie, and hear about Welsh vineyards, meaderies and distilleries producing everything from Welsh wine to black garlic vodka. There’s also outdoor swimming, dog-friendly adventures, food markets, Welsh cakes, bookshops and a potential future A Woman’s Brew road trip. Basically, by the end of this episode we’re ready to pack the van and head back to Wales — although Ruth still has some exploring to do before she can become our official North Wales expert!
 
A huge thank you to Ruth for guiding us around South Wales and sharing so many recommendations, and to the breweries and producers who gifted the beers and cider we tried for this episode. We also chat about Women in Beer UK’s upcoming Women in Beer Festival and the Women on Tap bursary scheme, which supports women in beer and hospitality who need financial help accessing qualifications, events and other opportunities. If this episode has made you want to explore Wales for yourself, we want to hear about it — and we’re already collecting recommendations for our future beer travels!
 
Dark Element Brew Co:
https://darkelementbrewing.co.uk/
 
Sobremesa Drinks
https://www.sobremesadrinks.co.uk/
 
Women in Beer UKhttps://www.womeninbeer.co.uk/
 
Women on Taphttps://www.womenontap.co.uk/
 
Get in Touch:
Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/
Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/
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Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism
Joanne: @lovebeerlearning
Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk
Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew
 
Join our 2025 drinking challenge here
 
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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

In this episode, we’re heading across South Wales with our friend Ruth Mitchell, who has very helpfully moved to Wales so she can show us where all the good beer is! We’re talking beer tourism, beautiful places and the breweries worth building a weekend around, starting in Tenby and working our way through Swansea, St Davids and Cardiff. Ruth takes us through taprooms, brewpubs and some seriously lovely beer spots, while we discover that South Wales might just be the perfect combination of beer, beaches, food and exploring. We also discover that getting between some of these places without a car can be… an adventure, shall we say.
Along the way we drink beers from Beer Riff, Bluestone and Flowerhorn, talk New Zealand hops, discover the story behind the relatively new US hop Pink, and get very excited about a brewery that runs archaeology walks from its taproom. There’s also talk of traditional Welsh beer, modern hazy and hop-forward styles, beer festivals, dog-friendly taprooms and the possibility of hiring a vintage bus to ferry a group of beer lovers around Wales. Naturally, this leads to discussions about camping, cross-stitch, tattoos and Tori’s ever-expanding list of hobbies. We had so much to talk about that we’ve had to make this a two-parter — so settle in for Part One, and stick around for more South Wales beer adventures in Part Two!
Breweries we were drinking:
 
Beer Riff:
https://beerriffbrewing.com/
 
Bluestone Brewing Company:
https://bluestonebrewing.co.uk/
 
Flowerhorn Brewery
https://www.flowerhorn.co.uk/
 
 
Get in Touch:
Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/
Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew
Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism
Joanne: @lovebeerlearning
Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk
Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew
 
Join our 2025 drinking challenge here
 
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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

In this bucket list beer episode, we’re cracking open Orval, one of Belgium’s most distinctive Trappist beers – and discovering that it really is a beer that refuses to fit neatly into a box. We taste our way through its surprisingly dry, highly carbonated character, picking up Belgian yeast, pepper, orange peel, floral notes, herbal hops, earthy Brett and a touch of dried fruit. We also get into why Orval is such a fascinating outlier, combining Belgian brewing traditions, English-style dry hopping and Brettanomyces maturation. And yes, we discover that 6.2% can be remarkably easy to drink… perhaps a little too easy!
 
We also head back to the 1930s to explore the history of Orval Abbey and the brewery, the legend of the trout and the golden ring, and the fascinating story of Brettanomyces – a yeast that many breweries desperately try to keep out, but which Orval has turned into one of its greatest strengths. We talk bottle conditioning, ageing and the joys of doing an Orval vertical, plus the discovery of Orval Vert, the elusive lower-strength beer served only near the abbey. And, naturally, this leads us to cheese, Belgian beer pilgrimage dreams and the beginnings of what might just become a very ambitious brewery road trip…
 
Check out the Reddit trip to Orval here:
https://www.reddit.com/r/CraftBeer/s/frsjrsZzi5
 
Beer & Brewing’s Ode to Orval:
https://www.beerandbrewing.com/an-ode-to-orval
 
Hop Culture on Orval Day:
https://www.hopculture.com/orval-day-2022/
 
Get in Touch:
Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/
Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew
Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism
Joanne: @lovebeerlearning
Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk
Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew
 
Join our 2025 drinking challenge here
 
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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

Do you know where your beer is actually made? In this episode, we’re getting stuck into CAMRA’s latest Beer in the UK report and, as you might expect, we have Thoughts. We’re talking about independent breweries, the Big Four, tied pubs, provenance and the question of whether beer drinkers are really being “lied to” about what’s on the bar. We also get into some terminology that was new to at least one of us – including CAMRA’s rather intriguing “fig leaf brewing” – and debate whether greater transparency around who owns and brews your beer is actually the thing consumers care about.
 
But this isn’t just a CAMRA-bashing episode. We’re trying to be fair and look at both sides, including where we think CAMRA is moving in a really positive direction. We dig into why independent breweries can struggle to get their beers into pubs, how tied houses and line-cleaning arrangements can restrict choice, the impact of Brexit on beer exports, and whether beer taxation is making life even harder for the industry. We also question some of the report’s assumptions about why people are drinking less beer, from the changing role of pubs and the cost of living to remote working, drinking at home and whether wine really is the villain of the piece!
 
Ultimately, we come away cautiously optimistic. There are some genuinely important issues here, but we’re left asking: what happens next? How do we get beyond another report explaining the problems and actually make change happen – and, perhaps most importantly, what can ordinary beer drinkers do to help? And yes, we may have a few things to say about whether anyone is genuinely shocked that Madri isn’t made in Spain…
 
Read the report here:
https://camra.org.uk/beer-report
 
What SIBA hhas to say:
https://siba.co.uk/2026/07/06/independent-brewers-welcome-camras-call-for-fairness-and-transparency-in-british-beer-market/
 
Get in Touch:
Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/
Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew
Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism
Joanne: @lovebeerlearning
Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk
Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew
 
Join our 2025 drinking challenge here
 
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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

We’re a little late with our mid-year review, but there’s been plenty to catch up on. From International Women’s Day collaboration brews to beer festivals, brewery visits and far more spreadsheets than anyone probably needs, we’re looking back at the first six months of the year and asking what’s actually changed in our beer lives. Along the way we compare our wildly different beer-tracking habits, debate whether six-month reviews are actually easier than quarterly ones, and discover that neither of us is quite as organised as we’d hoped. It’s a gloriously nerdy dive into stats, favourite styles and the joy of turning beer into a personal data project.
 
Of course, there are beers in our glasses too. We revisit our International Women’s Day collaboration beer, Espresso for My Depresso from Merakai, celebrating its beautifully balanced espresso martini character, while also cracking open beers from UnBarred, Wilderness and Japan’s Matsumoto Brewery. That leads us into conversations about saving “special” beers for the perfect occasion, experimenting with everything from Chardonnay grapes to old fashioned-inspired saisons, and why sometimes the best plan is simply to drink the beer you’ve been keeping for months.
 
Expect plenty of rabbit holes as we compare Untappd checklists, unusual hop varieties, strange beer ingredients, favourite fruit flavours and even which coloured sweets deserve to exist. We also share how the podcast has been performing so far this year, celebrate some standout episodes, and look ahead to everything we’re excited about for the second half of the year. If you love beer, brewing trivia and listening to two friends enthusiastically overanalyse almost everything, this one’s for you.
 
 
Get in Touch:
Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/
Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew
Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism
Joanne: @lovebeerlearning
Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk
Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew
 
Join our 2025 drinking challenge here
 
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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

This is the episode we've been building towards for years as we finally crack open one of the most legendary beers in the world: Sam Adams Utopias. After years of searching, a lucky find in the US, an anxious journey across the Atlantic, and plenty of excitement (and nerves!), we sit down together in the same room to experience Joanne's ultimate bucket-list beer. We dive into what makes Utopias so extraordinary, from its eye-watering 30% ABV and unique fermentation process to decades of barrel ageing, blending techniques and the remarkable story behind one of craft beer's most iconic releases. Along the way we explore why this beer inspires such devotion among drinkers and whether any beer can ever live up to that level of hype.
 
Of course, simply tasting Utopias once wasn't enough for us. We experiment with serving it in different ways, compare it to fortified wines and spirits we'd heard it likened to, and pick apart every aroma and flavour as we try to work out exactly where it sits between beer, barley wine and something entirely its own. There's plenty of geeky beer chat, honest first impressions, a healthy dose of apprehension about whether we'll actually like it, and the usual laughs as we inevitably question whether we're committing beer heresy before we've even taken the first sip. If you've ever wondered what all the fuss is about, or whether a £200 beer could possibly be worth it, this is the episode for you.
 
Get in Touch:
Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/
Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew
Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism
Joanne: @lovebeerlearning
Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk
Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew
 
Join our 2025 drinking challenge here
 
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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

This week we're ticking off another beer bucket list contender as we crack open Left Hand Brewing Company's iconic Milk Stout Nitro. A beer that has been winning awards, inspiring devoted fans, and confusing drinkers with its famous hard pour for over 25 years. We dive into the history of Left Hand Brewing, how they became pioneers of bottled nitro beer without using a widget, and why this creamy American stout helped revive the milk stout style for a whole new generation of beer drinkers. Along the way, we discuss nitrogen, lactose, sweet stouts, and whether all that nitro magic really lives up to the hype.
 
Of course, no Bucket List Beer episode would be complete without putting the beer to the test ourselves. We compare tasting notes, debate whether the chocolate, coffee or nutty flavours come through strongest, and discover just how dangerously drinkable a 6% stout can be. Plus, we accidentally turn the episode into a mini nitro pouring experiment, with mixed results and at least one beer-related disaster.
 
As a bonus, we also get the rare opportunity to try Left Hand's Peanut Butter Milk Stout Nitro together in person. Does it live up to the incredible peanut butter cup aroma? Is it worth hunting down if you spot it on your travels? And after all the awards, innovation and praise, does Left Hand Milk Stout deserve its place on every beer lover's bucket list? Grab a glass, pour hard, and join us as we find out.
 
That guy’s pour:
https://www.reddit.com/r/beerporn/comments/s0c6pj/left_hand_brewing_co_nitro_milk_stout_so_beautiful/
 
VinePair Article:
https://vinepair.com/articles/left-hand-brewing-milk-stout-guide/
 
Beer & Brewing Article:
https://www.beerandbrewing.com/style-school-authentically-american-wheat
 
Left Hand Brewing Co website:
https://lefthandbrewing.com/beers/milk-stout-nitro
 
 
 
Get in Touch:
Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/
Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew
Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism
Joanne: @lovebeerlearning
Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk
Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew
 
Join our 2025 drinking challenge here
 
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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

This week on A Woman’s Brew, we’re swapping doomscrolling for good vibes and celebrating the wholesome side of beer. Feeling the effects of busy schedules, burnout and everyday chaos, we wanted to create an episode that feels like a warm hug in podcast form. Over a couple of carefully chosen beers, we share heartwarming stories from across the beer world that remind us why we love this community so much.
 
From dads learning to braid their daughters’ hair over alcohol-free pints at “Pints and Ponytails” events, to breweries raising money for first responders, beer-loving grandmas sharing their best drinking advice, and strangers whose small acts of kindness sparked unforgettable brewing adventures, we uncover the stories that made us smile. Along the way, we chat about friendship, community, swimming pool etiquette, thoughtful beer gifts, and the little moments that can make a big difference.
 
Whether you need a break from the noise, a reminder that there are still plenty of good people out there, or simply want to hear some lovely beer-related tales, this episode is for you. Pour yourself something tasty, settle in, and join us for a celebration of kindness, connection, and the feel-good side of beer.
 
The articles:
Pints & Ponytails news article:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdepydpgnnno
 
Tring brewery raises money for community first responders:
https://www.beerguild.co.uk/news/tring-brewery-announces-charity-collaboration-with-community-first-responders?utm_source=chatgpt.com
 
Advice from beer drinking grandmas:
https://www.vice.com/en/article/we-got-drinking-advice-from-adorable-beer-loving-grandmas/
 
Grandad tastes beer for the first time:
https://www.reddit.com/r/hyderabad/comments/pmsyys/my_grandfather_will_be_turning_92_tomorrow_and_he/
 
Reddit - acts of kindness:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/jgtq1f/i_want_to_share_an_incredible_homebrew_story_with/
 
Communal NZ beer fridge:
https://tewahanui.nz/culture/communal-beer-fridge-a-first-for-new-zealand
 
Reddit random acts of homebrew kindness:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/jg3a0g/random_act_of_homebrewing_kindness/
 
Get in Touch:
Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/
Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew
Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism
Joanne: @lovebeerlearning
Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk
Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew
 
Join our 2025 drinking challenge here
 
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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

In this Bucket List Beers episode, we’re diving headfirst into the nostalgic chaos of Omnipollo’s iconic Bianca series — the thick, heavily fruited “lassi gose” beers that defined an era of hype craft beer. From the unforgettable feathered cans to the eye-watering price tags, we reminisce about the beers that felt more like desserts, smoothies, or complete fever dreams than traditional beer. Along the way, we crack open a couple of Bianca variations, including a blueberry ice cream collab and a divisive cherry maple pancake version that sparks some very honest tasting notes. Expect plenty of laughter, nostalgia, and discussion about the beers that pushed the boundaries of what craft beer could be.
 
We also explore the history of Omnipollo itself — from its beginnings as a gypsy brewery founded by brewer Henok Fentie and artist Karl Grandin, to the now legendary Omnipollo Church in Stockholm that remains firmly on our beer bucket lists. We chat about the rise of fruited goses, smoothie sours, milkshake beers, and the experimental beer culture of the late 2010s, as well as why beers like Bianca became such a phenomenon. Plus, we discuss whether these extravagant, adjunct-heavy beers still have a place in today’s beer scene as drinkers lean back toward more affordable and accessible styles.
 
To finish things off, we compare Bianca’s alcoholic and alcohol-free versions — and discover that the non-alcoholic BlackBerry Marshmallow Bianca might just be one of the best alcohol-free beers we’ve ever tried. From thick smoothie textures and huge fruit flavours to conversations about lactose, brewing trends, and the blurry line between beer and dessert, this episode is a love letter to one of craft beer’s most iconic and over-the-top creations.
 
Learn more about Omnipolo here:
https://omnipollo.com/pages/about
 
Browse their beer archive here:
https://omnipollo.com/collections/beers
 
 
Get in Touch:
Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/
Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew
Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism
Joanne: @lovebeerlearning
Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk
Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew
 
Join our 2025 drinking challenge here
 
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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

In this episode, we fully lean into the weird—starting with a black garlic beer that had been sitting in our “save for the right moment” pile for far too long. Spoiler: we decided to stop waiting and just drink the thing. What we expected to be bold, punchy, and unmistakably garlicky turned out to be… surprisingly normal. Instead of garlic bread in a glass, we got a smooth, caramel-forward amber ale with subtle, almost balsamic depth thanks to the black garlic. It sparked a bigger question for us: when we call a beer “weird,” do we actually mean it tastes strange—or just that it challenges our expectations?
 
From there, we spiral (joyfully) into a wider conversation about unusual beer ingredients and where the line between “weird,” “interesting,” and “totally normal in context” actually sits. We swap stories about everything from squid ink and mustard beers to mushroom brews, bacon cupcakes in liquid form, and even historical brewing techniques using wood, herbs, and whatever was on hand. Along the way, we unpack how much of “weirdness” is shaped by culture, familiarity, and personal taste—because let’s be honest, some things only seem strange until you understand them.
 
By the end, we’re deep into the wonderfully chaotic world of experimental brewing—think spaghetti bolognese beers, takeaway sauce concoctions, and even smoked goat brains (yes, really). But the takeaway isn’t shock value—it’s curiosity. Whether something works or not, we’re firmly in the camp of trying it before judging it. Because ultimately, “weird” isn’t a bad thing—it’s what keeps beer fun, creative, and worth talking about.
 
Reddit’s weirdest beers:
https://www.reddit.com/r/beer/comments/1ew8s2y/the_weirdest_beer/?seeker-session=true
 
Vinepair’s weirdest craft beers:
https://vinepair.com/articles/16-weirdest-craft-beers/
 
Reddit’s weird ingredients to brew with:
https://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/otfapo/weird_ingredients_to_brew_with/
 
Get in Touch:
Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/
Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew
Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism
Joanne: @lovebeerlearning
Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk
Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew
 
Join our 2025 drinking challenge here
 
Subscribe:
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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com