Breaking the Beer Barriers: Two Women from Bengaluru are conquering the Beer Industry in India

In a world where the alcohol industry is dominated by men like Lalit Khaitan, the CEO of popular brands like Magic Moments and Old Monk, two women from Bengaluru are breaking the shackles of the male-dominated alcohol industry and shattering the societal norm that it is only dominated by men. Varsha Bhat and Lyentte Piers are changing the dynamics of the Beer Brewing Industry. 

Lynette Piers: The Founder of Women Brewer Collective

Lynette Piers, moved to Bengaluru to pursue Pharmaceutical Research but instantly was fascinated by the brewing business. She recalls in an interview, that one of her most cherished moments was watching her aunt make fresh wine in the kitchen. This soon became her yearly Christmas ritual. What amazed Lynette the most was the fermentation process - which eventually drew her to craft beer and the art of brewing. After being one of the first female pioneers in the brewing industry, she wanted to encourage more women to pursue beer brewing as their full-time job. This thought germinated the seed of starting an exclusive, Women Brewers Collective. 

A pioneer in the brewing industry, she founded the Women Brewers Collective, a coalition of female brewer enthusiasts who want to pursue brewing as their full-time career. The members of this collective meet once a year and collaborate on their brews. So far, the Collective has worked with Bira 91 to brew a Hazy IPA using a pineapple passion psychedelic yeast. The Collective is a haven for women, where they can share ideas and help women pave their path in their brewing careers. 

Varsha Bhat: Head Brewer at Mannheim Brews 

Varsha Bhat has been a part of the Beer Brewing Industry for almost a decade and is now the first woman beer brewer head at a popular pub in Bengaluru. Bhat's passion for brewing began when she took her first-ever sip of beer from her father’s glass. She recalls that was the moment when she discovered her first true love - Beer. 

In an interview, Varsha says that the open-minded work culture in Bengaluru laid an extremely supportive environment to pursue beer brewing, as her passion. According to Government figures, 99% of women in India don’t partake in the drinking culture as it is widely frowned upon. Bhat aims to break the stigma attached to women drinking and working in the alcohol industry. Moving ahead, her main focus is inspiring women who aspire to become full-time brewers.