OUR Beer expertS

​Female members of several brewing and developmental teams to come down
and hang out with us for the day. There will be a bunch of beers to try and a chance
​to discuss women in the brewing industry.

florida breweries

FELONICE MERRIMAN | ACCOMPLICE BREWERY & CIDERWORKS

Co-owner of Accomplice Brewery and Ciderworks in West Palm Beach, Florida. Over three years ago, Felonice and her partner, Matt Stetson launched Accomplice Brewery and Ciderworks.  Already enjoying being self employed for 8 years as the owner of two other companies, she encouraged Matt to follow his dream of opening a brewery. Due to Felonice having celiac disease, she is unable to digest gluten or wheat and inspired Matt to create ciders and gluten free beers she could enjoy. Together in June 2015, they launched Accomplice Ciderworks and became South Florida’s first cider producer.

JEANNA MALINES | BROKEN CAULDRON BREWING

"I have been an avid brewer for 6 years. Having learned the hard way - as so many do - in my garage, my husband and I decided to take the leap and follow our passion to a profession in 2015. Black Cauldron Brewing partnered with another Brewery In Planning, Broken Strings Brewery, and we created Broken Cauldron Taproom. While we maintained our separate brands, we work cohesively as 1 brewery. Black Cauldron beers definitely tip the scale to the malt side and I also love to brew Belgians and sours."

KATHERINE CASTRO | MIA BEER COMPANY

Kat, born and raised in Miami and known around her brewery as Kitty. Got her beer career started at MIA Beer Company in the taproom and now, a few years later with the help of her mentors, is a full time cellar woman. Aspires to make strides in the now fast growing female brewing community. 

STEPHANIE HARPER | ISLAMORADA BEER COMPANY

Stephanie Harper is the head brewer for Islamorada Beer Company's South facility. She focuses on recipe development and runs a two barrel system and is occasionally able to head north and work on the thirty barrel system, at their distribution facility in Fort Pierce, FL, as well. She grew up in Newark, Delaware and moved to North Carolina to swim on the swim team for college at ECU. Graduating after four years, she ended up moving to the Keys to pursue a career as a dive instructor and boat captain. When the brewery opened up, she had asked about bar tending and being involved in brewing after having home brewed and volunteer brewing experience in college. She fell in love with it immediately and when she was asked to start full time and run the brewery in the Keys, she couldn't turn down the offer. Now, a couple years later, she's still so happy to be living in the keys, brewing full time and diving for fun!

MEGAN MICHAEL | BIG STORM BREWING CO.

Megan Michael is a, energetic Tampa bay local that starting brewing at Rapp Brewing as a cellerman. Wanting to learn more about the brewing process she then moved to Darwin Brewing Co to be an assistant brewer. Megan was a welcome addition to the Big Storm Brewing Co. team in late 2016, and now works as a brewer in their production facility in Clearwater, FL.

MOLLY EVELETH | SWAMP HEAD BREWERY

Molly Eveleth joined Swamp Head Brewery in 2015 while finishing up a degree in Food Science at the University of Florida. A South Florida girl who never would have thought she'd stick around Gainesville for long, she is now happily running the quality lab at Swamp Head. When Molly isn't busy obsessing over yeast, she enjoys traveling and petting all of the dogs that come into the Swamp Head tasting room

MARIA MCFEE | BARREL OF MONKS

Maria McFee (AKA The Belgian Beer Evangelist) is a co-founder of Barrel of Monks brewing in Boca Raton, FL.
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Along with her husband Bill, Maria has traveled extensively in pursuit of the finest Belgian beers. "Belgian beers have always been a passion for us, we love the complexity of these beers and enjoy sharing our love with the US market. It brings a big smile to my face when I can introduce people to the Belgian inspired beers we love!"

DEVON KREPS | 7VENTH SUN BREWERY
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7venth Sun held its grand opening on January 7, 2012 in Dunedin, Florida by owner/operators Devon Kreps and Justin Stange.  The partners met at Sweetwater Brewing in Atlanta where Justin worked in brewing, cellar and packaging operations and Devon was Production Manager.  Prior to Sweetwater, Devon graduated from Oregon State University with a degree in Fermentation Science, brewed in Anheuser-Busch’s pilot facility and was a manager at AB’s Cartersville location.  After moving to Tampa Bay to start 7venth Sun, Justin was one of the earliest employees brought into Cigar City. Though the team originally intended to open a large production facility in Tampa, the housing bubble burst leaving them struggling to find funding and the decision was made to open a small facility in the coastal town of Dunedin.  Starting the small brewery proved serendipitous as it allowed the creation of a wide variety of styles, which was an extremely liberating change from the large production brewery setting. 

While working out new recipes, Florida Weisse stepped into the horizon.  Inspired by Professor Fritz Briem and Schlossbrauerei Au’s Berliner Weisse, 1809, the pair thought it was a perfect style to complement Florida’s sunshine.  They collaborated with other burgeoning breweries, discussing process ideas, and dipped into the vast availability of tropical and citrus fruits the state had to offer.  It was the beginning of a path that set the tone for 7venth Sun – innovating traditional styles by taking a new approach.  Since then, 7venth Sun realized the dream of a Tampa facility which opened in the Seminole Heights neighborhood, in August of 2017.  Though larger than the original location, the 15 barrel system carries on the philosophies that began in Dunedin, continuing to push the limits of style descriptions and categories, shifting the focus to barrel-aged beer, both sour and spirit aged, in addition to Saisons and IPA's.

KAYLA BROGNA | BOUSA BREWING CO.

After hating being stuck at a desk Kayla decided to make her home brewing hobby her career and started working at the Trumer Brauerei in Berkeley as a Packaging Assistant. After a few months of cleaning/slinging kegs and working on the bottling line, she was promoted to a brewer position. There she perfected racking, bottling, warehousing, filtering, cellaring and brewing. She then brewed at Sierra Nevada in Chico and focused on the ins and outs of raw materials. Somewhere in between, she fit in leading the Sacramento Area Pink Boots Society Chapter until her move to Miami in November to take over at Bousa Brewing Co. On any given day you can find her on some adventure with her canine sidekick. 

ERIKA CHAVEZ | FUNKY BUDDHA BREWERY

Inspired by FemAle Brew Fest and the amazing ladies that participated in the event, Erika decided to contact PBS and inquire about getting involved with the organization. She is now the chapter leader for Pink Boots Society- Florida since its inception in June 2017.

Erika began her beer journey last year working for MIA Beer Co. She currently works as the Special Events Coordinator for Funky Buddha Brewery in Oakland Park, FL. 

ORLANDO SENTINEL | More local women seek a career in beer
“Craft beer is definitely a male-centric environment,” said Erika Chavez, president of the Florida Chapter of the Pink Boots Society and event coordinator for Funky Buddha Brewery in South Florida. “That’s why we formed. We’re doing what we can to bring more women in and give them a path to where they want to go.”

​Beer isn’t typically marketed to women, she said, and women have often been pushed to wines or other alcoholic beverages.

national breweries

L.A. McCRAE | BLACK STAR LINE BREWING CO.

When I dare to be powerful, to use my strength in the service of my vision, then it becomes less and less important whether I am afraid. ~ Audre Lorde

​Rev. L.A. McCrae, M.Div. of Black Star Line Brewing Co. is a Black, queer, masculine of center woman with a passion for justice, equity, and most of all: making great liberation libations and resiliency dranks. They are a gifted visionary who persists in the face of adversity. As an ordained, theologically trained pastor, brewing and leveraging the brewery as an outpost of ministry comes naturally. They are committed to building and making community spaces that center leadership, empowerment, and the liberation of marginalized and disenfranchised persons. They are intentional about creating and holding space for folks who have often been left out of the craft brewing party. Interdependence, collective economics, and shared education are core to L.A.’s operating principals and beliefs that through beer and the #sweetbeermovement, we can transform communities; one beer at a time. 

The spring of 2017, L.A. learned that they have a family history in “good ole homebrewing.” Though they are a self-taught brewer, they’ve had their skills refined by homies in the brewing industry. L.A. holds a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Tennessee-Knoxville with majors in Political Science and Africana Studies. Additionally, they earned a Master’s of Divinity degree from Wesley Theological Seminary and a Graduate Certificate, “Leadership, Organizing and Action: Leading Change,” from the Harvard Kennedy School of Government. ​

EMILY THOMAS | SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN BREWING

Emily Thomas, co-founder, owner and brewer of Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing, has combined her passion for community and social work with innovative brewing and the organic food movement to create a well-loved business that produces award winning organic ales.  As a working owner/brewer, Emily is involved in every aspect of her business.  Day-to-day operations, business/brand strategy and a commitment to non-profit fundraising.  Coupled with brewing wildly successful and unique ales that challenge people's perceptions and definitions of organic ale, makes a very full life!

TAYLOR SETTANI | SANTA CRUZ MOUNTAIN BREWING

In early 2016, after spending several years tending bar at Santa Cruz Mountain Brewing's taproom, I was offered a position in the brewhouse. Armed only with my passion for craft beer and my willingness to learn, I was thrust headfirst into the kettle. As a woman whose only experience was my homebrewing hobby, I raised eyebrows. But thanks to my patient and knowledgeable coworkers, I was quickly able to perform all of our behind the scenes brewing and cellaring tasks with confidence. I am always learning and constantly growing as a brewer who is thoroughly enjoying her journey. 

LAUREN ZEIDLER | BALLAST POINT

Lauren  joined Ballast Point in 2012 and has been fortunate enough to grow with the company alongside a stellar team since then.  Now Director of Quality, she oversees all operations within Ballast’s multiple labs and Field Quality team; she also gets to be continually amazed by what yeast can do to create interesting, complex beers.  Prior to entering the craft beer scene, she studied Evolution and Gender & Women’s studies at UC Berkeley.  Lauren is passionate about Quality in the brewing industry and loves to talk with people about it.  She enjoys tasting new beers, travel, being a nerd, and trying new things.

MARY BAUER | LAGUNITAS BREWING COMPANY

Mary Bauer joined the Lagunitas Brewing Company in 2013 after stints at Anheuser-Busch in St. Louis and Pepsi in Minnesota. Bauer oversaw the launch of the Chicago brewery in 2014, which is on track to brew 500,000 barrels this year.

Bauer developed a passion for science in high school after taking chemistry with a particularly fantastic and brilliant teacher. She carried that interested with her to college where she took a food science class and learned about the fermentation process. Bauer graduated from the University of Chicago in 2005 with a degree in chemistry. 

When Bauer isn’t at work making sure the brew process goes off without a hitch, she spends her time in Oak Park, Illinois with her husband, Joe and their dog, Nala

STAY TUNED...
​we will be announcing more breweries soon!