More East Lancashire women are getting a taste for Real Ale (From Lancashire Telegraph)

More East Lancashire women are getting a taste for Real Ale

2:03pm Wednesday 1st February 2012 in Pendle By Anna Mansell, Features writer

THINK of a ladies’ night and sparkling rose, vodka and tonics and copious bottles of wine spring to mind.

And when it comes to drinking stereotypes, there are few stronger images than that of the traditional drinker of real ales.

But members of the East Lancashire Camra, the Campaign for Real Ale, hope to turn opinions on both of these, as they host a special event this evening.

This year’s Pendle Beer Festival launches tomorrow at Colne Muni, but tonight the scent of perfume will mix with the heady aromas of malt and hops for an exclusive ladies’ night.

Camra member and event volunteer Karen Pashley, 50, from Colne, said: “The Cask Report says about one in six real ale drinkers are women, so if 20 per cent of our East Lancs membership are women we’re doing rather well.

“The image of the bearded typical ale drinker is changing. Most are still men but they’re getting younger.

“For me, it’s the quality; the ingredients are good, it’s not full of chemicals and it’s a ‘real’ product.

“The good thing about a beer festival is serving the ales in third of a pint glasses, so if you don’t like something it’s not such a throw away.”

And for those who like a spicy warming red wine in winter and a cooling, dry white in summer, there are real ales to tick those boxes too.

“What I drink depends on my mood,” Karen said. “I like refreshing blonde beers in the summer but on a chilly winter’s day I like something stronger like Ginger Marble.”

Someone benefiting fromthe increased interest in real ale by women is Natalie Tyson, owner and brewer at Darwen’s Hopstar microbrewery.

“Our Smokey Joe’s Black Bitter goes down well with the ladies. It’s chocolatey — so it shows there’s a variety of flavours for different people,” she said.

While Natalie is knowledgeable about the processes and ingredients used for real ales, she admits preferring wine.

“I have tried to like beer, but the bitter, tangy taste is not for me,” she said. “Although I hope that maybe my palate will mature to it one day.”

Burnley brewery Moorhouses is planning a ladies’ day event to tie in with the summer racing season this year, and managing director David Grant says the female palate is changing.

“For years, women have drunk wine; they are the ones who buy it and who drink it but they are now looking for different drinks,” he said.

And he believes a simple change in the presentation of real ales would encourage even more women drinkers.

“The visual element of drinking beer [from a big pint glass] is not so nice; I accosted a group of women dining once and drinking Champagne, asked if they would try beer out of a flute and they all enjoyed it.

“The natural ingredients are appealing too. It is hard to push the health issue with beer but — in moderation — cask ale is as good for you as red wine. And there are calorific benefits — it’s not as fattening as some wines and spirits in the market.”

The event takes place in the Lesser Muni, Colne, from tonight 7.30pm, and tickets cost £10 from Karen on 01282 870152 or by emailing pbf2012ladies@gmail.com. All proceeds will be donated to Pendleside Hospice.