Dea Latis stages tasting for women MPs

Beer and women group Dea Latis staged its third beer tasting in Parliament recently, treating a room full of women MPs and women working in the brewing and related industries to an evening of beer and food matching. The group also announced some initial fundings from its recent research into women’s behaviours and attitudes around beer.

The event, organised jointly with the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group and British Beer & Pub Association, was attended by around 70 guests. Beer Sommelier and Dea Latis founder Annabel Smith guided them through six beer and food pairings designed to showcase beers from Dea Latis corporate members, while co-founder Lisa Harlow revealed the research results.

The event was hosted by Ruth Smeeth MP, vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group.  She said.   She said “Often in Parliament I’m the only woman in the room, so it made a lovely change to be in a room full of women.”

“I was delighted to meet so many talented women who are working in the brewing and related industries and I’m sure that their passion for beer will encourage more to forge careers in these sectors, and persuade more women to start drinking our wonderful national drink.

“All the MPs including myself greatly enjoyed tasting the wonderful and diverse selection of beers from around the country and were amazed how well they matched the different foods on offer.

“It was inspiring to discover that women are playing such a central role in leading Britain’s beer renaissance”

Lisa Harlow for Dea Latis said: “The Westminster event fulfilled two of our main aims: to highlight the women working in our industry and present it as a career choice for more women, and to encourage more women to drink beer. We’re glad that our MP guests enjoyed the evening and hope they are encouraged to become influential advocates for our cause.”

She added: “The top line findings from our research were received with interest by guests and we look forward to issuing the full results once we’ve analysed them, early next year.” The research was carried out thanks to a grant received by Dea Latis from the Brewers’ Research & Education Fund.

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, added, “We are delighted that a growing number of female MPs are championing beer as Britain’s national drink and grateful to Ruth Smeeth MP and her colleagues for taking time out of their busy schedules to support women working in our industry.”

The beers enjoyed by guests were:

• Marston’s 61 Deep: served in champagne flutes as an aperitif
• St Austell Tribute with Fish & Chips
• Joseph Holt Humdinger with mini Croque Monsieur
• Harvey’s Wharf IPA with onion bhaji
• Shepherd Neame Bishops Finger with pigs in blanket
• Marston’s Pearl Jet with mini roast beef and Yorkshire puds
• Liefmans Kriek with chocolate truffles

All guests also departed with a bottle of Plum Porter, brewed by Titanic Brewery in Ruth Smeeth’s Stoke-on-Trent constituency, and a personalised bottle of Vedett, thanks to Dea Latis member Duvel, who took photos of guests and turned them into labels on the spot.

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Notes to editor

Dea Latis was founded in 2010 by a group of women working in the beer and pubs industries and now has more than 400 supporters including brewers, beer tasters, marketeers, licensees, writers and bloggers, as well as six corporate members: Duvel Moortgat, Harvey’s, Joseph Holt Brewery, Marston’s, Shepherd Neame and St Austell Brewery. For more info, visit  www.dealatis.org.uk

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Further information:

Lisa Harlow: lisa@lisaharlow.co.uk / 07917 757860

Annabel Smith: annabel@beerbelle.co.uk / 07920 058500

Beer and women group to stage tasting for female MPs

Beer and women group Dea Latis is joining forces with the Parliamentary Beer Group and British Beer & Pub Association to bring beer to women MPs at an event in Westminster next month.

As well as tasting a selection of beers from across the country, matched to different foods by Beer Sommelier Annabel Smith, guests will meet some of the many women who work in brewing and related industries, from grain to glass. Dea Latis will also be revealing the results of recent research into women and beer at the event.

Smith said, “The aim of our event at Westminster is to remind MPs that women play a vital role in producing our national drink and introduce them to some of the talented women involved in it.

“Women in this country drink less beer than in the USA and most European countries.  At Dea Latis, we’re committed to narrowing this gap by introducing more women to beer and we hope this event creates some new, influential advocates for our cause.”

The event is hosted by Ruth Smeeth MP, vice chair of the All Party Parliamentary Beer Group.  She said, “We’re delighted to be partnering with Dea Latis to bring together women working in parliament and women working in the brewing industry, from grain to glass. It promises to be an enjoyable and informative evening and we’re confident guests will leave the tasting seeing beer in an entirely new light”

Brigid Simmonds, chief executive of the British Beer & Pub Association, added, “‘With a growing number of female MPs taking a keen interest in beer and brewing, the BBPA is delighted to support this Parliamentary celebration of women in beer.”

Dea Latis has staged two previous beer tastings for MPs in 2015 and 2013. The upcoming event, on 21 November, is by invitation only, and is expected to attract some 80 guests drawn from parliament and across the brewing industry:  brewers, maltsters, hop growers, licensees and off-trade retailers, beer sommeliers and writers.