From marketing and human resources to brewers and owners, women are taking a more active role in an industry that has often embraced a "bro culture." That culture has kept women from applying for jobs even when breweries were looking for workers, says Brienne Allen, head of the Boston chapter of the Pink Boots Society, a national organization for women in the brewery industry.
"Why would a woman apply to one of those breweries?" Allen asked. "Girls are leaving because of the bro atmosphere, and they're treated terribly. Some breweries women don't apply to because they have a weird bro culture."
Rob Burns, board president of the Massachusetts Brewers Guild, says he wants to bring more diversity to the industry. He is working with Katie Stinchon, executive director, and two other women who sit on the board to find ways to attract more woman.
Burns' own brewery recently hired a woman to head its HR department and has two women who work as brewers.