Thousands of women have used social media to share stories of workplace harassment and racism in the craft brewing world. What happens next?
The craft beer world is facing its own reckoning after allegations of sexual harassment, racism, and broader workplace misconduct emerged in May via a series of Instagram posts by Brienne Allan, the production manager at Salem’s Notch Brewing in Massachusetts. In the weeks since, thousands of women have taken to social media with allegations of their own—leading to a series of high-profile resignations and terminations at some of the nation’s most celebrated breweries. The founder of Pennsylvania’s Tired Hands Brewing Company stepped down, the director of sales at Connecticut Valley Brewing was terminated, and the founder of San Diego’s Modern Times Beer also stepped down, among others. Industry workers continue to speak out online, but a culture shift is needed. As the San Francisco Chronicle’s Esther Mobley reported, women and people of color are underrepresented in brewing, which “makes it easier for dynamics to develop that don’t prioritize their safety.”
