International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate progress, amplify voices, and reflect honestly on the work still ahead. Across British Columbia, breweries are marking March 8 with special releases and events led by women in brewing.
This year, we’re also honouring one of the most influential figures in Canadian brewing and brewing education: Nancy More.
Five Questions with Nancy More
Could you describe your career in a nutshell?
“I joined Labatt as a technical trainee and then worked at breweries across Canada,” Nancy says. “My 15 minutes of fame were being appointed Head Brewmaster at Labatt New Brunswick, the first woman to hold that level of position.”
Her career quickly became international. “I moved to Russia with SunInterbrew to help improve quality, breweries, new beers, and leaders across Russia and Ukraine.” She later worked with InBev Global and Guinness.
“When I returned to Canada, Kwantlen was starting up the Brewing and Brewery Operations program. Dominic Bernard and I co-wrote the curriculum, and I taught from the inception of the program through to 2025.”
What did you enjoy most on a day-to-day level?
“My favourite parts of any job worked well together: developing people and solving problems,” she says. “A great way to develop people is to coach them through solving problems they experience on the job.”
She adds, “One of the best parts of working in our industry is seeing how your products help people enjoy life and celebrate important moments.”
What moment feels most defining when you look back?
“Taking the opportunity to move to Russia set me on a different trajectory,” Nancy reflects.
“My team came from all over the world. We all had different ideas about brewing, but by talking through problems, we found the right solution for the brewery we were working with.”
The experience shaped a lesson she often shared with students: “I learned that we are more the same than we are different, but that the differences are important. The way we did things in Canada was just one way, not the right way.” She adds, “And, this made students laugh whenever I said it, it depends.”
What has mattered most to you beyond the beer itself?
“No doubt: the people. I’ve been involved in training young brewers all over the world and have seen our graduates become great brewers and leaders,” she says. At KPU, she taught leadership and management, lessons many students only fully appreciated years later.
“I also realized early on that my way of working with people was different from many of my male colleagues. I wanted to show that my way could be just as effective.”
The industry has changed significantly over the years. From your perspective, how has the experience for women in brewing evolved?
“This is a tough question,” Nancy says. “Recently, I asked a group of women in the industry if things were getting better, and sadly, the answer was ‘not really.’ People talk about diversity, but behaviours and opportunities haven’t changed as much as they should.”
Still, she remains hopeful. “The fact that people are talking about diversity is progress. Visibility matters; young women need to see people like them in the industry to believe that they belong. Maybe this is part of what I’ve done through teaching, to show that this is possible.”
What advice would you give to women entering brewing today?
“You don’t have to be one of the boys,” Nancy says. “Express yourself and then deliver solutions. Your style may be different; demonstrate how it can be successful.”
She also emphasizes community. “Help each other. Find your supporters, and thank them for what they do for you. I send my thanks out to people (Steve K, Ivan G, Dave P, Chris L, Gene Z.) who stood up for me and made sure that I was given opportunities and coached me to be a success.”
Read more about Nancy’s legacy as a BC Beer Awards Industry Legend Award winner, and the scholarship named in her honour.
International Women’s Day Brews & Events Across the BC Ale Trail
Breweries across the province are marking International Women’s Day with collaboration, creativity, and community impact.
Kootenay Rockies
• Fernie Brewing Co. will be tapping a Light Scottish Ale in celebration of the women shaping the brewery every day.
Lower Mainland & Fraser Valley
• Farm Country Brewing hosts a March 8 tap takeover featuring beers all brewed by the talented women and non-binary members of Langley’s craft beer community. Vote for your favourite to crown the Pink Boots Trophy winner.
Here is the list:
- Brookswood Brewing Co: DIPA / Aurora’s Cashmere
- Camp Beer Co: Fruited Lager / Unladylike
- Dead Frog Brewery: Shirley Temple Ale / Girley Shirley
- Farm Country Brewing & Barley Merchant : Saison / Femininom Saison
- Five Roads Brewing: Ale / Black Cherry Chicory Root Ale
- KPU Brew Lab: India Session Ale / Shared Path
- Locality Brewing: Berliner Weisse / Princess Peach
- Smugglers Trail Caskworks: Cask, fruited sour /Róisin
- Trading Post Brewing: Fruited saison/ Yuzu Saison
- Fraser Valley Cider: Semi-Dry Cider / Dark Cherry Chocolate
• Five Roads Brewing will be offering brewery tours and free tastings from 4–6 pm on March 8.
• Field House Brewing will release a women-brewed Raspberry Lime Lager. On tap only on March 8th, $1 per beer sold will be donated to the Ann Davis Transition Society.
Northern BC
• Deadfall Brewing Company hosts its second annual International Women’s DJ Vinyl Night on March 7, with DJs spinning exclusively female artists starting at 7 pm.
Thompson Okanagan
• Cannery Brewing will be brewing a tropical hazy pale ale on March 6, with a release planned for April 10, at the Okanagan Fest of Ale. Partial funds from the sale of this beer will be donated to the Beer Babes Family.
• Jackknife Brewing becomes JillKnife for the week, with a special beer release on March 8.
• Railside Brewing celebrates International Women’s Day with Mango & Ginger brews, live music, family-friendly fun, and $4 from every pint donated to Mamas for Mamas.
Vancouver Island
• Driftwood Brewery marks its first Pink Boots brew, celebrating a brewing team that is now half women. Available in the taproom on Friday, March 6th, with $1 off pints of Pink Boots Brew. Meet the brew crew from 4 – 6 pm.
• Gladstone Brewing hosts a March 7 Pink Party with music, celebration, and community spirit.
Vancouver Coast & Mountains
• Coast Mountain Brewing releases Queen of Hops, a Hoppy Lager brewed annually to honour International Women’s Day.
• Steamworks Brewing partnered with Salal Sexual Violence Support Centre on a Wildberry Wheat Ale, supporting survivors through collaboration and awareness. This beer will be available on tap at all Steamworks locations.
Raising a Glass
From the classroom to the brewhouse, International Women’s Day on the BC Ale Trail is a reminder that beer is ultimately about people; the ones who teach, lead, collaborate, and create space for others to grow.
This March 8, raise a glass to the women shaping BC beer, today and into the future.
