The French beer scene is blossoming, thanks to a number of hard-working individuals who are helping the country raise its game. For beer sommelier and consultant Carol-Ann Cailly, putting in the work has meant a handful of different projects—starting with her long-running beer blog, Hoppy Hours, where she has covered everything from industry sexism to brewery profiles. Cailly also created Brewjob in October 2017: both a jobs website and a 7,700-member Facebook group for employers and job-seekers, which remains a key industry resource.
As if that weren’t enough, in 2022, Cailly helped launch a new association for French women, Buveuses de Bières, or [Female] Drinkers of Beer, along with co-founders Marie-Emmanuelle Berdah and Juliette Phuong. From her base in Paris, Cailly serves as the association’s inaugural president. Since January, Buveuses de Bières has held a number of popular events, including beer-focused group hiking trips and tastings—both IRL and virtual—as well as membership meetups in cities around France, all with the goal of bringing more women and gender minorities into beer.
This work has given Cailly a solid perspective on her country’s contemporary beer scene, and where change is still needed. Fueled by that insight, Cailly was one of six women who drafted an open letter to the local beer industry, calling for a more inclusive and equitable culture this past March—so French beer can blossom even further.
Words,Evan Rail