Sheryl Rose (right) with Amy Sherman, host of the Great American Brew Trail /Courtesy of Pussycat Beer Guild
"We all know it's a little difficult to take the plunge of joining a group of people you're unfamiliar with, but I try to reassure new prospects that we're not catty (in spite of our name) and we love to have new people attend. The more the merrier!"
-Sheryl Rose
On January 7 the Pussycat Beer Guild will host a social that's open to the public. The group will meet at 6 p.m. at Rockford Brewing Company. Anyone is welcome to join.
This is the first such social of the new year and is part of a new bi-monthly gathering that the guild has started. The atmosphere is more social than educational and allows for men to participate.
The Pussycat Beer Guild was formed in the August of 2008, the same time HopCat opened on Ionia Street.
"The main function has always been to give women a comfortable, intimidation-free place to learn about craft beer," says organizer Sheryl Rose. Rose has been with the group since its inception.
The guild, which is exclusive to women has organized brewing workshops and has collaborated with HopCat to make a beer that was on tap at the 2010 Winter Beer Fest.
In addition the group has invited women who work in the industry to speak on topics such as the the nuances of yeast strains, the role of different ingredients and style specific tastings.
Other issues addressed are the history of brewing and the changing role of women within the industry.
"The group dynamics have morphed with time, so whatever the current group wants to learn is what we cover in upcoming meetings," says Rose.
The women-only group meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 6 p.m. at HopCat. The group usually congregates in the upstairs lounge and "any women can show up at any meeting and be welcomed into the group," says Rose.
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