Happy International Women’s Day!
To mark the occasion of International Women’s Day, we’ve asked some of the women of Beau’s to share their thoughts on the brewing industry, influential women in their lives, and much more.
The Beau’s Brewing Team…
Alyssa Kwasny (right), Brewer
Favourite Beau’s Beer: Dunkel, but right now I think the Cherry Revue is pretty tasty.
How did you come to work in the brewing industry? I started off in retail around the time I decided to close and sell my own business. I thought that the brewing department would be the most fitting place for me.
What woman/women do you look up to? (Could be as an industry mentor, or strong women in your life/popular culture that inspire you)
I think Jen Nadwodny is pretty awesome from Saint-Jérôme’s Dieu du Ciel. She’s a great brewer, she’s funny, and she tells it how it is! I also think a lot of the smart women that I work with are rad too. In general, my mom of course.
Why is International Women’s Day important to you?
I think it’s an important day to showcase the achievements of women past and present. We obviously have a long way to go – when looking at the current political, socio-economic, and racial climate. In the land of beer, there is a serious lack of representation and continued sexism within the industry. Most of the women I know get asked to talk about women in beer a lot more than just plain ol’ beer.
What’s your superpower?
Humour in awkward moments? I can fit in small spaces? I’m good at roller skating? I don’t think any of those qualify as superpowers.
If Beau’s could collaborate with anyone on a beer, who would you want it to be?
I would like to collaborate at a brewery that is in a city with hot weather and close to a beach. I have only brewed at Beau’s on our systems though, so it would be fun to do a collab anywhere.
Nikki Tessier (left), Brewer
Favourite Beau’s Beer: I can’t just have one favourite! I love Nordic Pale Ale, Farm Table Pilsner, Dortmunder, Farm Table Märzen, Bush Fire to name a few.
How did you come to work in the brewing industry?
I started out working in retail at Beau’s way back in 2008. I dabbled in events, packaging, both on the line and the logistics side, to working my way at becoming a cellar person and ultimately made my way to brewing. I love it!
What woman/women do you look up to? (Could be as an industry mentor, or strong women in your life/popular culture that inspire you)
My mom and my Oma share the number one spot when it comes to influential women in my life. Shout out to Joan, Natalie, my aunts, my friends, my awesome coworkers past and present, the list goes on. So many lovely, strong, hard-working, creative, inspiring ladies help shape the world we live in!
Why is International Women’s Day important to you?
I think it’s important to celebrate our past and present contributions and achievements and to work together towards gender equality, on a global level.
What’s your superpower?
I have a super sense of smell, which can work for or against me at times. I can also be a super multitasker.
If Beau’s could collaborate with anyone on a beer, who would you want it to be?
I would love to collaborate with Dieu du Ciel. I love their tasty and creative brews!
Jacquie Severs, Marketing Director
Favourite Beau’s Beer: Full Time I.P.A. for a year-round option, Buenos Dias in the summer!
How did you come to work in the brewing industry?
I’ve spent a lot of my career working in marketing of consumer products, so in that sense it was a natural fit. I also worked in marketing in the museum sector, which involved a lot of community building. So the combination of the two make for good experience for the craft beer industry. But in fact, I came to work for Beau’s because I had many friends who worked here, and I was envious of the kind of work they were getting to do! I really wanted a chance to work for a company that I have shared values with, work on a super creative team, and work for an employer that sees jeans as appropriate for work, even at important meetings.
What woman/women do you look up to? (Could be as an industry mentor, or strong women in your life/popular culture that inspire you)
I love the writer Roxane Gay. She inspires me and is someone I see as strong, interesting, dynamic, and down to earth. Her book Difficult Women took bravery to write, as it portrays women as complicated and nuanced. In my personal life, I look up to my sister a lot—she’s a great listening ear and gives excellent advice on all things without being pushy about her opinions. In the workplace, I have looked up to many women over the years as I’ve been lucky to have many women leaders I’ve worked with. At Beau’s, I recently have come to really admire the many career-oriented Moms who work here. I’m expecting twins, and so I look up to the many mothers who have returned to work and found a way to balance their family lives with the demands of the beer industry. We have mothers on our brew team, sales team, marketing team, office team, and beyond.
Why is International Women’s Day important to you?
International Women’s Day is important to me because I feel it’s essential that we celebrate the achievements of women while looking ahead to achieving more. In particular, I think a lot of stereotypes about women need to be broken, and it’s a day out of the year to pause and think about what women are, how we exist in the world, and how we can improve that experience for women everywhere.
What’s your superpower?
I wish it was teleportation. But probably it’s that I find terrible jokes funny. Also, I can balance Rockets candy on my nose and then catch them in my mouth.
If Beau’s could collaborate with anyone on a beer, who would you want it to be?
Beyoncé. But, if I were to pick a cool Canadian, which would be a more Beau’s thing to do, I’d pick Samantha Bee. We could call it Samantha Beer.
Tanya Beimers, CFO (Chief Financial Officer)
Favourite Beau’s Beer: Lug-Tread
How did you come to work in the brewing industry?
Beau’s was a client where I worked and I thought it would be a refreshing change from the “corporate” world. So I applied and the rest is history.
What woman/women do you look up to? (Could be as an industry mentor, or strong women in your life/popular culture that inspire you)
I have always looked up to my mom. She was a working woman in the ’70s/’80s and juggled things the same as I do now with family, career, etc. I never thought that that was anything but the norm. I also always felt that I could do/be whatever I wanted just because … I could.
Why is International Women’s Day important to you?
It is a time to reflect on women’s successes and achievements but also reminds us what we still need to accomplish.
What’s your superpower?
Counting numbers
If Beau’s could collaborate with anyone on a beer, who would you want it to be?
Hmmm, maybe Ellen Degeneres as I think it would just be so much fun. Oprah would be awesome too. Aim high I say!
Denise Morin, Microbiologist/QA-QC Technician
Favourite Beau’s Beer: Lug-Tread
How did you come to work in the brewing industry?
I went back to college after getting my degree in biochemistry and had a course on fermentation. This really piqued my interest so when I had to look for a work placement to complete my diploma I focused my efforts on breweries and wineries. I was able to get in touch with Beau’s and did my placement here. I found that beer has so much more to it than I ever expected! From there I was hired on as a summer intern with the Beau’s QA/QC department and have been here ever since.
What woman/women do you look up to? (Could be as an industry mentor, or strong women in your life/popular culture that inspire you):
My biggest influence would definitely be my mom. She raised me and my brother on her own so I grew up watching her do things that women traditionally didn’t have to do, and she is very independent. My mom is one of the strongest and bravest people I know. She instilled in me a will to be the best I can be and she never tried to change who I was or push me to be something I wasn’t. She was never afraid to speak her mind or be the best she could be at work, and she never let me think that I would just be given things. I was taught you had to work hard to get rewarded and I’m so thankful for that drive and courage that she has given me.
Why is International Women’s Day important to you?
It’s important to me because there are still those expectations and limitations on what women should or can do with their lives and who they should be. I still get people who are surprised I am a scientist and not something more traditionally female for a career; and there is still a much larger number of men than women in my and other fields like it. I still have moments where I’m in a meeting of 20-odd people and the number of women there is less than a quarter. So, this day is important to me because it celebrates the achievements of women! That we can do and be anything we set our minds to, and that it showcases those examples where we’ve pushed the boundaries set against us. I want all young girls to have the freedom to choose their own path and not be met with stereotypes or assumptions on their ability based on their gender, so I feel it’s important to show them examples of how awesome they can be!
What’s your superpower?
Tough one! Probably my ability to get along with just about anyone! I always manage to find some common ground with people and have some laughs.
If Beau’s could collaborate with anyone on a beer, who would you want it to be?
Naoko Takeuchi – the creator of Sailor Moon. She created a show about regular girls who were heroines, and growing up there were not a lot of strong female role models in popular entertainment. I love this series because they are kickass girls who have their weaknesses but they always overcome them. Her series has helped so many young girls to be confident in who they are and what they want to be. That women can be the leads and can fight and be strong but also still be women, not be women trying to be men.
Kelly MacCallum, Culture and Engagement Specialist
Favourite Beau’s Beer: One Ping Only
How did you come to work in the brewing industry?
I stumbled upon the whole craft beer subculture by happenstance about 7 years ago when friends of mine dragged me out to my first beer festival. At the time, I was not a beer drinker and offered to be their DD for the night. It was one of those big life moments for me – a total game changer. I’ve always been fascinated by unique sub-cultures and communities, and I was so blown away by the entire experience that I felt compelled to get to understand it and become a part of it. I had to start by learning to drink beer. At that point, I’d only ever been exposed to big brands and didn’t realize how many options were out there. I started sampling and discovered very quickly that I have a profound love for stouts and porters.
At the time, it was pretty common for the brewers themselves to attend the events, pour their beer and talk about their creations. It was so awesome to hear people speak so passionately about their craft and hear about the stories that brought them there.
And there were all these other people who just “got it”. They were a kind, passionate, independent group of people that I really connected with. It was truly a community and they pretty much “had me at hello.”
I’ve worked in employee engagement, retention and culture for over 20 years. So when the opportunity arose to work for Beau’s – a brewery known in the community for its strong sense of giving back and greater purpose and that my role would be to help this cherished brand preserve, frame and promote its values and culture, I was all in.
What woman/women do you look up to? (Could be as an industry mentor, or strong women in your life/popular culture that inspire you)
I am very inspired by kind people who give generously and sacrificially and use their influence for good.
There are some great examples of women like this – whether it is Mother Teresa, Oprah or Princess Diana – there’s just a genuine spirit of a bigger purpose and selflessness that I find incredibly powerful and moving. I love that these women didn’t use their power to inflate themselves but to help others.
Why is International Women’s Day important to you?
It is important to me because the values this day brings to the forefront align with my own personal values – tenacity, justice, dignity, hope, equality, collaboration, appreciation, respect and empathy. Any time we can promote and live out these values, we all win.
What’s your superpower?
I’d say it is the trifecta of tenacity, boldness and the absence of fear.
If Beau’s could collaborate with anyone on a beer, who would you want it to be?
I feel like it is time for Bob & Doug McKenzie to come out of retirement via a collaboration with Beau’s.
For further reading about the women of Beau’s, check out this profile from our friends at SheDoesTheCity! www.shedoesthecity.com/the-babes-of-beaus-brewery