International Women's Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) is an annual event that takes place each year onInternational Women's Day (8 March).[1] The event gathers women brewers around the world who brew a beer around that year's theme.[2] It was established to raise awareness ofwomen in the brewing industry, especially as beer brewmasters. It also networks women interested in brewing.[3]
From 2025, the event is organised byWomen On Tap CIC, marking its return after a year hiatus with the themeUNITE SOCIETY. Brewers are encouraged to use the event to raise funds for, or donate to, women's causes. Commercial breweries are encouraged to commit to a minimum £100 donation to a non-profit women's organisation or group.[4] TheSociety of Independent Brewers (SIBA) is the campaign’s headline partner, withWine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) on board as an Education Partner, and additional sponsorship pledged from Simpsons Malt.[5]
The idea for the IWCBD came from Project Venus member,Sophie de Ronde, who reached out to thePink Boots Society in 2013 to start a "unified brew day."[6] De Ronde wanted the day "to encourage women to brew together."[7] The day was meant to coincide withInternational Women's Day and would "raise awareness of women in the brewing industry and raise money for local charities and Pink Boots Society."[6] Brewing beer is a male-dominated industry and is "struggling withsexism and gender bias."[8] Another participant said, "I'd like to normalize the idea that women can and do work in the brewhouse along with other departments in a brewery."[9]
The first year, 2014, over 60 women in five countries brewed apale ale called Unite.[10] In 2015, 80 women from eleven countries worked together to brew Unitered ale.[6][9] InSouth Africa,Apiwe Nxusani-Mawela, helped organize the first IWCBD event inJohannesburg.[11] For 2016, the type of beer brewed was agose.[12] By 2018, the number of participating female brewers had increased to 126.[13]
