On Tuesday 3rd February, we teamed up with Burton Bridge Brewery to brew Wyrd Sisters – a 3.3% Black IPA created to celebrate International Women’s Day.
The beer will be available in Castle Rock pubs (and beyond) from Saturday 8th March, with an early chance to try it at the Vat and Fiddle from Thursday 5th March.
For the past five years, we has proudly taken part in International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) – a global celebration of the contributions women make across the brewing industry.
Brewing remains a traditionally male-dominated sector, and IWCBD provides an opportunity for women working in brewing, pubs, beer businesses – and those simply passionate about beer – to come together, collaborate, and celebrate International Women’s Day through brewing.
By brewing in early February, the finished beer is ready to launch in time for International Women’s Day on 8th March.
At its heart, IWCBD is about visibility, collaboration and community – showcasing the many roles women play in beer, from brewhouse to bar.
This year, we were delighted to collaborate with our friends at Burton Bridge Brewery, welcoming Emma, Tia and Laura to Nottingham to brew Wyrd Sisters alongside our team.
The beer’s name is inspired by Wyrd Sisters by Terry Pratchett – a tale centred on a trio of witches and with a subtly feminist undertone. The word ‘wyrd’ comes from Anglo-Saxon and Norse culture, referring to fate, destiny, and the weaving together of lives – a fitting theme for our collaborative brew!
The day began bright and early at 7:30am, with coffee kindly provided by Stewarts Coffee Roasters. Over 30 women joined us throughout the day, getting hands-on with the brewing process, from mashing in and digging out to taking lab readings and learning more about quality control.
Alongside the brewing, Head Brewer Jon led brewery tours, giving attendees a deeper insight into how their favourite Castle Rock beers are made.
As with previous years, the beer supports an important cause. 10p from every pint of Wyrd Sisters sold will be donated to Nottingham Women’s Centre, helping fund the vital services they provide for women across the city.
We were incredibly grateful to Emily from NWC for joining us on the day and sharing more about the Centre’s work, the support they offer, and the causes they champion.
Learn more about Nottingham Women’s Centre here.
The day also featured a brilliant line-up of workshops and tastings.
Steph from Crisp Malt led interactive malt tasting sessions, giving our volunteer brewers a hands-on understanding of how malt contributes to flavour, aroma and colour.
Lucy from Let’s Beer hosted guided beer tastings throughout the day, comparing cask and keg, low and high ABV, and Castle Rock and Burton Bridge beers.
Beers tasted included:
DDH Pale: Citra (5.0%) – Castle Rock’s juicy double dry hop pale available in keg and can
Huge thanks to both Steph and Lucy for running such engaging sessions.
The afternoon brought a change of pace with a thoughtful and insightful talk from beer writer Laura Hadland, titled “The History of Beer Festivals Through Three Women’s Stories”. It was a fascinating listen – and a welcome sit-down after a busy brew day. Want to learn more? Grab a copy of Laura’s book “Beer Festivals: A Great British Tradition” here!
The day ended on a high with a hilarious stand-up set from Laura Emson of Burton Bridge Brewery. Her show, “A humorous canter through the history of beer and how it’s all down to women”, had the room in stitches and was the perfect way to round off such a special day.
Wyrd Sisters launches at the Vat and Fiddle on Thursday 5th March, ahead of International Women’s Day on Sunday 8th March.
Join us for a pint, support Nottingham Women’s Centre, and raise a glass to the women shaping beer – past, present and future. 🍻
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