St. Louis has always been a beer town, but recent years have seen a huge renaissance of the craft beer scene. Although the industry tends to be male-dominated, that doesn’t mean St. Louis women aren’t getting in on the game, too. Helping local women learn about all things beer is The OG: St. Louis Women’s Craft Beer Collective. Founded in early 2014, the unique nonprofit is dedicated to empowering women in the craft beer community through a variety of fun, educational events.
The group meets monthly at Flying Saucer downtown. Discussions focus on everything and anything beer related, such as beer and food pairings and technical aspects of the brewing process. Tastings, of course, are always included. For a meeting on beer and chocolate, ingredients like cocoa powder and cocoa nibs were passed around, followed by a sampling of beers using different types of chocolate. Monthly meetings cost $5 for members and $7 for nonmembers; an annual membership is $25.
The OG’s co-founders, Abbey Spencer, Kathy DeLassus and Elizabeth Jenkins, formed the group after discovering they all loved craft beer but felt they lacked a forum for learning more about it. “By that time I had been pretty involved in beer organizations in town and also was involved with my homebrew club,” Spencer says. “I felt there was a need for women to band together to learn from one another and get more involved in the industry.”
It’s a topic all three women are passionate about, Spencer says. “Beer kicks wine’s ass. There are more than 150 styles of beer, and there’s no food on this planet you cannot pair with it—you can’t say the same thing with wine or spirits. There’s always something exciting coming out, and I love finding beer that people enjoy.”
Although The OG (whose initials don’t stand for anything in particular) hosts occasional co-ed events, monthly meetings are women-only, which allows for a more open, comfortable conversation, Spencer says. “We often focus on tech topics during our meetings, and those are the topics where men often have a lot to say, which I appreciate, but some women might not feel as comfortable asking random questions in that environment,” she notes. “We wanted our meetings to be laid-back, a safe space to let it all out.”
Since its founding, the group has become a familiar sight at beer-centric events. This spring, the women brewed their first commercial beer, Fraise Cassée, a strawberry saison (farmhouse ale). The OG developed the original recipe and brewed it with the help of Six Row Brewing Company. Although the saison is no longer available in stores, The OG is currently planning the release of its second commercial beer. This time, the group will work with Charleville Vineyard & Microbrewery in Ste. Genevieve to produce an oatmeal porter, expected to be released in early 2016.
In November, The OG hosts a wine versus beer showdown. The event will feature a sommelier and its beer equivalent, a certified cicerone, choosing beer and wine to pair with six courses. Event-goers will sample the pairings and vote on which they prefer. The location and charity beneficiary are to be determined.
[strawberry, arugula & goat cheese flatbreads]
1 1/2 c. flour
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 t. baking powder
1/4 t. salt
1 T. olive oil
1/2 c. plain Greek
yogurt (not non-fat)
1/3 c. saison beer
» Combine olive oil, yogurt and beer in a small bowl. In a stand mixer fitted with a dough blade, combine dry ingredients. Slowly add wet ingredients until dough ball forms.
» On floured surface, knead 5 minutes or until smooth. Form into four balls, cover and rest 10 minutes. Press into 6-inch discs.
» Heat a heavy griddle to medium-high. Add enough olive oil to coat surface. Place one disc at a time and cook until bubbles begin to show and dough is lightly brown, 2-3 minutes.
Strawberry Sauce
1 lb. fresh strawberries, finely chopped
1 t. butter
1/2 t. each grated ginger and chili powder
1/4 c. Fraise Cassée (OG Stawberry Saison) or any high-quality saison
2 T. strawberry preserves
Salt and pepper to taste
» Combine strawberries and butter in medium pan over medium heat. Once mixture simmers, add ginger, chili powder, beer and preserves. Simmer until sauce thickens slightly. Add salt and pepper.
Salad
4 c. arugula
18-20 strawberries, sliced
8 oz. goat cheese, crumbled
3/4 c. walnuts, chopped
» On each flatbread, arrange 1/4 of the salad. Drizzle with strawberry sauce. Serve warm, paired with a dry saison.
Pictured: Members of The OG at Urban Chestnut Grove Brewery & Bierhall, from left: Cheryl Fields, Rebecca Darnell, Ashley Dutton, Abbey Spencer, Kathy DeLassus, Elizabeth Jenkins
Photos: Bill Barrett
