The world of craft brewing is largely a male-dominated industry. Female brewers are few and far between. So during Women’s History Month some local women got together to learn the tricks of the trade at Homewood’s Rabid Brewing, led by a woman, Raiye Rosado, who is co-owner of the brewery with her husband, Tobias Cichon.
vorlaufing works during the brewing process. A hose
is connected to the mash tub to pump mash out and
back in to help clarify it. (Photos by Carrie
Steinweg/H-F Chronicle)
The world of craft brewing is largely a male-dominated industry. Female brewers are few and far between. So during Women’s History Month some local women got together to learn the tricks of the trade at Homewood’s Rabid Brewing, led by a woman, Raiye Rosado, who is co-owner of the brewery with her husband, Tobias Cichon.
The participants were from the Women’s Adventure Club, a group that was formed through Facebook with a wide variety of monthly outings in and around Chicago’s South Suburbs.
turn at vorlaufing.
This outing was a 10-or-so hour day of pouring and boiling and mixing and measuring and throwing around terms like hops and wort and mash and vorlaufing. They’ll be able to taste the fruits of their labor after about three weeks of fermenting when four barrels of beer will be served in the tap room as a 6.4 percent alcohol, 34 international bitterness unit red American ale called Sanguinista.
“Those in my household brew beer, so it happens in my garage,” she said. “I mostly watch from afar.”
out of the mash tun and
back in to help clarify it.
Rebec said that she’s always looking for new adventures for the group and after visiting the brewery and learning of Rosado’s involvement, she talked to her about doing a women’s brewing experience.
The group’s mission is “to support and accelerate business development and growth, targeting women and serving all diverse business owners, in order to strengthen their participation in, and impact on, the economy.” The WBDC offers entrepreneurial counseling, technical assistance and access to capital for each stage of the business cycle.
“There is nothing like having someone you trust who has no personal interest in what you’re doing, but has that kind of experience to be able to bounce ideas off of and find out how other places do it. The acumen that was available to me was second to none.”
The WBDC is headquartered in Chicago and serves a nine-state Midwestern region. The nearest office is located at Governors State University. For more information on the WBDC, visit wbdc.org.