Women, Beer, and Witches: The Forgotten Female Origins of Brewing

From ancient goddesses and medieval alewives to witch myths and modern brewers, this is the untold story of how women built beer culture, and how history pushed them aside.

Photo by Fábio Alves on Unsplash

Beer is not merely a beverage. Throughout history, it has been a cornerstone of social rituals, economic participation, cultural transmission, and even the formation of myths. Yet there is a striking truth often overlooked: The first master brewers in history were women.

This article explores women’s long-lost role in beer culture from their central place in early brewing, to their symbolic association with witchcraft, and finally to their powerful re-emergence in the modern beer world.

The Birth of Beer: In Women’s Hands

Thousands of years ago, in Mesopotamia, where the earliest beer recipes are believed to have emerged, brewing was primarily women’s work. In Sumerian mythology, Ninkasi, the goddess of beer and fermentation, held a revered place in daily and spiritual life. In fact, an ancient hymn dedicated to Ninkasi contains one of the oldest known written beer recipes.

Women were not merely producers; they were custodians of knowledge, shaping beer’s role in daily nourishment, religious ceremonies, and communal life. In ancient Egypt, beer was both a staple food and a social tool, again largely brewed and distributed by women.

In its earliest form, beer was part of women’s labour; produced at home, sustaining families and binding communities together.

The Middle Ages: Alewives and Economic Power

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By the Middle Ages, beer production had moved beyond household kitchens into marketplaces, and women stood at the centre of this transformation. In England and much of Europe, female beer brewers and sellers were known as alewives.

Alewives brewed beer in their homes and sold it in local markets, taverns, and streets, contributing directly to household income. Beer was not only a drink, but it was:

• A source of economic independence for women,
• A means of gaining social visibility and respect within their communities.

At a time when few professions were accessible to women, brewing allowed them to participate actively in the local economy.

Beer and “Witches”: The Making of a Myth

One of the most intriguing narratives surrounding women brewers is their supposed connection to the modern image of the witch. Large cauldrons, cats, brooms, and tall hats, objects commonly associated with alewives, are often cited as the origins of witch iconography.

However, modern historical analysis urges caution. While these parallels are compelling, they are not definitively proven historical facts. There is no direct evidence that alewives were systematically labelled as witches.

What is historically grounded includes:

• Women brewers’ deep knowledge of herbs, plants, and fermentation sometimes appeared mysterious or threatening.
• The use of visual symbols (such as brooms displayed outside homes) to advertise beer for sale, which later took on symbolic meanings.

Rather than a literal transformation of brewers into witches, the witch image appears to be a cultural myth shaped by fear, gender bias, and social change.

The Industrial Revolution: From Women’s Craft to Men’s Industry

From the 18th century onward, industrialisation fundamentally reshaped beer production. Brewing shifted from homes and small-scale operations to factories and large commercial enterprises.

This transition had profound consequences for women. For example, Industrial brewing required significant capital and access to guilds, spaces largely controlled by men. Moreover, brewing was redefined as a technical and industrial profession, increasingly framed as “men’s work.”

As a result, women, once the primary brewers, were gradually pushed out of production and erased from beer history. What had once been a domestic craft and source of women’s livelihood became a male-dominated industry.

The Modern Era: Women Return to the Brew Kettle

Today, women are reclaiming their place in the beer world, though not without challenges.

Global Networks and Solidarity

Organisations such as the Pink Boots Society support women and non-binary people in brewing through education, mentorship, and networking. Events like International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day showcase women’s creativity and technical expertise on a global scale.

Influential Women Brewers

Modern beer history features trailblazing women such as:

1. Teri Fahrendorf, founder of the Pink Boots Society,
2. Rosa Merckx, one of Belgium’s first female head brewers,
3. An de Ryck, a respected Belgian brewer continuing a family legacy.