HOLD MY BEER Female

HOLD MY BEER

BEHIND SOME GREAT BREWERIES IS A FEMALE BREWER

BY JESSICA ZIMMER

Two female brewers are pouring delicious concoctions in the San Joaquin Valley.

Veronica Camp, a founding partner of California Seltzer Company in Lodi, has introduced an assortment of handcrafted hard seltzers. The lineup includes pineapple lemon, hibiscus lime, blood orange, and berry rush. The newest flavor is pink lemonade. “Charlie Lippert and Joseph Ehlers, the owners of Five Window Beer Company, and I started off with an assortment of recipes. Our team worked tirelessly until we were able to perfect the recipe,” says Veronica.

Veronica, who also founded the Central Valley Brewfest held in Turlock, says the Valley’s craft brewers are welcoming to newcomers, making it a supportive community.

Barri Altimari, co-owner and co-brewer at High Water Brewing in Lodi, says she likes creating “unique flavors for the curious palate.” “I particularly enjoy Moroccan, Thai, and Greek profiles. I look for spices and citrus juices that are bright and lively. For example, our Cucumber Kölsch contains German Pilsner, two hand-cut varieties of cucumbers, fresh mint, coriander, and lemon peel,” Barri says.

Barri, who grows herbs, flowers, and fruits in her garden to use in extracts, says High Water Brewing expects to offer beer pairing dinners this fall, to further bring out the tastes in the beers she helps to create.

While they both have a heavy hand in their respective businesses, the two have also crossed paths, being females in an industry where there may not be many, and both working in Lodi. Their first meeting was at Brewfest in 2015.

Barri says she and Veronica are advocates for women in the industry. “Often women are not seen as part of the contributory process. Since the beer industry is male-dominated, men are seen as the leaders in the field. It’s important for women and their work to be recognized,” says Barri.

They also lift each other up. “It was wonderful of Veronica to organize the Central Valley Brewfest. That event creates a space for brewers in the region to come together and be celebrated,” says Barri.

“I was so impressed with Barri’s knowledge of flavor profiles. She gives me inspiration to work outside the box,” says Veronica.

Veronica adds attending beer-related events is a good way to meet people in the industry. “Women can also ask to meet with head brewers or tour a brewery. When you put effort in initially, there will be people by your side later.”