Provocative labels stir controversy in craft community - Madison

Have you read why it's called Two Women?

 

This has become a controversy over the past couple of years. I am completely against sexism, but personally feel that the market should dictate these things. If people don't like it, don't buy it or support the brewery. I would just hate to see some sort of regulation arise from it. I feel Half Acre handled the Heyoka issue well (slightly different issue albeit). Some breweries would take the opposite route. But that's their prerogative.

 

I think it's only an issue in Madison. The rest of the state doesn't worry about being offended by stupid stuff.

 

I think the market can dictate it though through controversy.

 

Er...my problem with that article is that neither HopWhore nor Who's Your Daddy nor Spank Me Baby are gender-specific. In fact, IIRC, doesn't HopWhore have a crude drawing of an obviously male figure on the label?

 

Completely agree and exactly my point.

 

I am tired of the PC police. Let them be offended!

 

Hmmmmm.....

 

I don't see many women with goatees, so yes.

 

Just curious, does anyone know when the 28th amendment to the US Constitution was ratified? You know, the one that says everyone has a fundamental right to not be offended by anything.

 

I'm pretty sure "Who's Your Daddy?" implies a male figure (daddy) in a dominant role. Seems pretty gender specific to me. And if I recall correctly, the description of Hop Whore uses female gender pronouns. The illustration is on all the BGW series, it's supposed to be their brewmaster.

 

Personally, I'm happy we now live in a world where the most egregious example of gender inequality this writer can find is on a beer label.

In the timeless words of one Ms. Virginia Slim, you've come a long way, baby.

 

Some people would even be offended that we assign gender at all. I have come to the conclusion that people are bored and have it too good, why else would they complain about stupid stuff?

 

Everyone has a right to feel a way about any thing they want.

 

Yes, but it's not the dominant role they're complaining about in the article. :-)

Seems pretty gender-neutral to me:

Overpowering perfume, dripping with luscious hop flavor. And, on what a body. You're in for one helluva experience!​

The article (and it seems a lot of readers) assume the wording on these beers is specifically about women, when it really is not. (With the exception of Bitter Woman, but that's not the one that they're usually riled up about.)

 

Glad your girlfriend speaks for her entire gender. Besides that, this sentiment is coming from women INSIDE the industry, an industry that continues to be dominated by men. They are certainly in a position to talk about this sort of thing. Of course ultimately the market will be the judge of what steps over the line, but to try and disregard these sentiments (of people who are, quite frankly, more qualified to talk about the subject than you or I) as overly PC culture would be short-sighted.

 

I am far from a feminist, so it's surprising even me that I am writing this, but...

Personally, I don't find Tyranena's labels sexist, but I think the fact this article was written points to an issue within craft beer. There are women who don't like this type of thing and it is sending a subtle message that Craft Beer is for men.

I blame the big macro brands for using sexist ads over the last decades, and creating the image/culture that beer is a man's drink, but I also blame craft brewers who are adopting and continuing that message. Craft Beer is suppose to be different than Macro. We let the product do the selling rather than cheap marketing gimmicks. Craft brewers and drinkers should be trying to re-educate the public by saying beer is a women's drink as well.

I don't agree with Deb that it is coming from men who are insecure with their own masculinity. Most all of these labels were thought up/drawn by women, approved by women, or encouraged by women within the brewery. I do agree that it is "appealing to the lowest common denominator" though. I'm positive that the men and women who are defending their borderline sexist labels are doing so based on desire for increased sales, not based on encouraging other women to get into Craft Beer (which ironically could be the best way to increase sales).

 

the majority of beer drinkers are men. figure it out.