This week on A Woman’s Brew, we’re swapping doomscrolling for good vibes and celebrating the wholesome side of beer. Feeling the effects of busy schedules, burnout and everyday chaos, we wanted to create an episode that feels like a warm hug in podcast form. Over a couple of carefully chosen beers, we share heartwarming stories from across the beer world that remind us why we love this community so much.

From dads learning to braid their daughters’ hair over alcohol-free pints at “Pints and Ponytails” events, to breweries raising money for first responders, beer-loving grandmas sharing their best drinking advice, and strangers whose small acts of kindness sparked unforgettable brewing adventures, we uncover the stories that made us smile. Along the way, we chat about friendship, community, swimming pool etiquette, thoughtful beer gifts, and the little moments that can make a big difference.

Whether you need a break from the noise, a reminder that there are still plenty of good people out there, or simply want to hear some lovely beer-related tales, this episode is for you. Pour yourself something tasty, settle in, and join us for a celebration of kindness, connection, and the feel-good side of beer.

The articles:

Pints & Ponytails news article:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cdepydpgnnno

Tring brewery raises money for community first responders:

https://www.beerguild.co.uk/news/tring-brewery-announces-charity-collaboration-with-community-first-responders?utm_source=chatgpt.com

Advice from beer drinking grandmas:

https://www.vice.com/en/article/we-got-drinking-advice-from-adorable-beer-loving-grandmas/

Grandad tastes beer for the first time:

https://www.reddit.com/r/hyderabad/comments/pmsyys/my_grandfather_will_be_turning_92_tomorrow_and_he/

Reddit - acts of kindness:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/jgtq1f/i_want_to_share_an_incredible_homebrew_story_with/

Communal NZ beer fridge:

https://tewahanui.nz/culture/communal-beer-fridge-a-first-for-new-zealand

Reddit random acts of homebrew kindness:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/jg3a0g/random_act_of_homebrewing_kindness/

Get in Touch:

Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/

Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew

Join our 2025 drinking challenge here

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Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

In this Bucket List Beers episode, we’re diving headfirst into the nostalgic chaos of Omnipollo’s iconic Bianca series — the thick, heavily fruited “lassi gose” beers that defined an era of hype craft beer. From the unforgettable feathered cans to the eye-watering price tags, we reminisce about the beers that felt more like desserts, smoothies, or complete fever dreams than traditional beer. Along the way, we crack open a couple of Bianca variations, including a blueberry ice cream collab and a divisive cherry maple pancake version that sparks some very honest tasting notes. Expect plenty of laughter, nostalgia, and discussion about the beers that pushed the boundaries of what craft beer could be.

We also explore the history of Omnipollo itself — from its beginnings as a gypsy brewery founded by brewer Henok Fentie and artist Karl Grandin, to the now legendary Omnipollo Church in Stockholm that remains firmly on our beer bucket lists. We chat about the rise of fruited goses, smoothie sours, milkshake beers, and the experimental beer culture of the late 2010s, as well as why beers like Bianca became such a phenomenon. Plus, we discuss whether these extravagant, adjunct-heavy beers still have a place in today’s beer scene as drinkers lean back toward more affordable and accessible styles.

To finish things off, we compare Bianca’s alcoholic and alcohol-free versions — and discover that the non-alcoholic BlackBerry Marshmallow Bianca might just be one of the best alcohol-free beers we’ve ever tried. From thick smoothie textures and huge fruit flavours to conversations about lactose, brewing trends, and the blurry line between beer and dessert, this episode is a love letter to one of craft beer’s most iconic and over-the-top creations.

Learn more about Omnipolo here:

https://omnipollo.com/pages/about

Browse their beer archive here:

https://omnipollo.com/collections/beers

Get in Touch:

Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/

Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew

Join our 2025 drinking challenge here

Subscribe:

• Podbean
• iTunes
• Spotify
• TuneIn

Watch:

YouTube

Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com

In this episode, we fully lean into the weird—starting with a black garlic beer that had been sitting in our “save for the right moment” pile for far too long. Spoiler: we decided to stop waiting and just drink the thing. What we expected to be bold, punchy, and unmistakably garlicky turned out to be… surprisingly normal. Instead of garlic bread in a glass, we got a smooth, caramel-forward amber ale with subtle, almost balsamic depth thanks to the black garlic. It sparked a bigger question for us: when we call a beer “weird,” do we actually mean it tastes strange—or just that it challenges our expectations?

From there, we spiral (joyfully) into a wider conversation about unusual beer ingredients and where the line between “weird,” “interesting,” and “totally normal in context” actually sits. We swap stories about everything from squid ink and mustard beers to mushroom brews, bacon cupcakes in liquid form, and even historical brewing techniques using wood, herbs, and whatever was on hand. Along the way, we unpack how much of “weirdness” is shaped by culture, familiarity, and personal taste—because let’s be honest, some things only seem strange until you understand them.

By the end, we’re deep into the wonderfully chaotic world of experimental brewing—think spaghetti bolognese beers, takeaway sauce concoctions, and even smoked goat brains (yes, really). But the takeaway isn’t shock value—it’s curiosity. Whether something works or not, we’re firmly in the camp of trying it before judging it. Because ultimately, “weird” isn’t a bad thing—it’s what keeps beer fun, creative, and worth talking about.

Reddit’s weirdest beers:

https://www.reddit.com/r/beer/comments/1ew8s2y/the_weirdest_beer/?seeker-session=true

Vinepair’s weirdest craft beers:

https://vinepair.com/articles/16-weirdest-craft-beers/

Reddit’s weird ingredients to brew with:

https://www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewing/comments/otfapo/weird_ingredients_to_brew_with/

Get in Touch:

Website: https://awomansbrewpod.beer/

Email: awomansbrewpodcast@gmail.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/awomansbrew/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AWomansBrew

Tori: @adventures_in_hoptimism

Joanne: @lovebeerlearning

Jo’s website: http://www.lovebeerlearning.co.uk

Support us: https://ko-fi.com/awomansbrew

Join our 2025 drinking challenge here

Subscribe:

• Podbean
• iTunes
• Spotify
• TuneIn

Watch:

YouTube

Music: Higher Up by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com