Bristol pub hosts its first beer dinner for women

The Albion, Clifton, joined forces with the brewer and Dea Latis – an organisation aimed at encouraging women to drink more beer – to put on a five-course meal, pairing each dish with a different beer.

The ‘Best of the West’ feast on 20 July was prepared by the pub’s chef Scott Jenkins, while beer sommelier and Dea Latis founder Annabel Smith guided guests through the matches, as well as busting some of the ‘beer myths’ that hold women back from trying beer.

Gourmet pairings

Among the beer and food matches offered were a barbecue pulled pork dish with St Austell Brewery’s Eureka American Pale Ale and a Prosecco & strawberry jelly with Bath Ales’ Dark Side Stout.

Speaking about the event, Smith said: “Our dinners are all about presenting beer in a new way to women and, at the Albion, we showed the diversity of beers, from pale ales to dark stouts and tasted some magical beer and food matches.

“It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening and by the end of it, even the staunchest wine drinkers had found a beer they loved!”

Challenging beer myths

One of the guests at the dinner, Lesley Gillilan, added: “I’m not a beer drinker, but one of the beers at the Dea Latis dinner was a Belgian cherry beer that was matched with chicken liver parfait. I loved the flavour combination by pairing it with a beer.

“The event opened my eyes to the variety of beers on offer and I’ll certainly be more open to exploring different styles in the future.”

Dea Latis was established in 2010 with a mission to ‘bring beer to women’. The organisation aims to challenge male-oriented beer advertising and dismiss myths that prevent women from engaging with beer. It runs regular tastings and dinners around the country, where women meet to try beer and food pairings, and learn more about the drink.