Meet Britain’s first lady know-it-ales!
By: JimOldfield
July 22nd, 2012
It’s official… Britain has just unveiled its first two women real ale know-it-alls!
Sophie Atherton and Annabel Smith have become the country’s first accredited female Beer Sommeliers, after passing an exacting exam under the watchful eye of Beer Academy Chief Examiner, Dr George Philliskirk.
The Beer Sommelier qualification – launched by the academy just six months ago – is designed to produce accredited ale experts, and the Academy says: “The scheme offers recognition of a significant depth of knowledge of beer styles and beer and food matching for successful candidates.
“You will become an ambassador with the knowledge, communication skills and, most importantly, the passion to inspire people to discover, respect and enjoy our national beverage.”
Beer blogger Ms Atherton said: “I hope that by becoming a beer sommelier I can enable more people to enjoy the enormous variety of beer and find out just how well it goes with food.”
And Ms Smith, a training manager for pub watchdog Cask Marque added the she wanted to persuade women that beer was not just for blokes.
Dr Philliskirk said: “Traditionally the vast majority of UK beer has been drunk by men… but things are changing.
“Women do enjoy beer but tend to be more discerning that the average male beer drinker. They like to know how it’s brewed, what raw materials are used and how these affect the flavour of the final product and which beers are the best partners for different foods.”
