Women in Indiana craft beer provide increasingly bright spot in Indiana’s battle for equality

Indiana has been through some shit lately. RFRA really put on blast the lack of tolerance/acceptance our state’s leaders and their financial backers have for anyone that isn’t an upper class white male. Crime is skyrocketing in downtown Indianapolis, while support for programs benefiting inner city youths and struggling neighborhoods seems non-existent. Lawmakers continually display a complete lack of understanding of the LBGTQ community and how that community operates in the world.

It’s hard, constantly explaining to outside friends why I live here. It really is hard sometimes, and I know I’m not the only one. A recent conversation I had with new friend in Bloomington, IN lead to this conclusion: “There doesn’t seem to be a lot of hope here right now, but we have to stick around and create, otherwise Indiana will never change for the better. If not us, who?”

And there is SO MUCH truth to that sentiment. We constantly work towards (in spite of the powers that be) a future that’s better for ALL Hoosiers, regardless of the actions of Mike Pence or his followers, and no community highlights that as much as the Indiana craft beer scene.

The Indiana craft beer industry is rich with women that are industry leaders, as brewers, industry leaders, and just overall craft beer fans.

And the craft beer industry should take notice.

Look at your head brewers and owners. Keely Thomlinson, the award winning head brewer at Indianapolis’ Thr3e Wise Men Brewing Co. Elise Lane, the CEO at McCordsville’s Scarlet Lane Brewing Co. Function Brewing’s Arlyn Llewllyn running an exceptional brewery and restaurant. Amanda Wishin, founder of Girls Pint Out, an international organization aimed at introducing women to craft beer through open and inviting events. Barb Kehe, the owner of Valparaiso’s Ironwood Brewing. Leah Huelsebusch at Taxman Brewing. The Yelp! Indy team, a devoted crew of dedicated women working toward highlighting the Indianapolis restaurant and beer scene. Indiana On Tap’s Writing Community is split 50-50 between female and male voices. Etc., etc., etc.

The Indiana craft beer community is an increasingly bright spot in Indiana’s darkening outlook, and folks in power should take note. As lawmakers and politicians continue to try and turn Indiana into an (in)equality battleground, the third-fastest growing industry in the state proves to be otherwise, and all you need for evidence is to walk into an Indiana brewery or tap house to see this. Men, women, people of color, people of increasingly different backgrounds, all ponied up to the bar, sharing pints of exceptional Indiana beer.

The power of inclusion is alive and well in the Indiana craft beer community, and it is increasingly evident that policy makers or even brewery owners who act adversely towards that are found out pretty easily. The latter makes it easier for us as consumers to choose who we support with our money and patronage, and the former who we support with our voices. 

​As the folks at the statehouse continue to push Indiana further and further backwards, we need only look at the Indiana craft brewing industry for hope that our state can continue to push progressively forward.