How Alewives became Witches, and shaped the Craft Beer Industry

By Madison Plucknett

Let’s start with a thought exercise. Humor me, please. Close your eyes and imagine a witch. Go ahead. No wrong answers. What did you see? Something (or someone) like this?

What if I told you that is not a witch? Rather, this is the image of a Medieval Alewife.

So why does she look so much like you might see her crushed under a Kansas house? The short answer is that the craft of brewing beer was once “women’s work”, that was proven to be profitable when they were able to produce higher quantities. Once dollar signs started flying, wealthy men wanted the profits. So, instead of forming a symbiotic relationship, they started accusing alewifes of being witches…and the rest is history.

Since it’s nearly Halloween, and our haunted tours are coming up in just a couple days, I figured it would be a good time to dig deeper on this topic. Grab your broomsticks and let’s fly -

Alewives: Pioneers of Brewing and Community

In Medieval Europe, brewing was considered a domestic task—and one that was vital for daily life. Clean drinking water was scarce, so people relied on fermented beverages (i.e. beer/ales) as a safe alternative. Women managed the household brewing, preparing batches of ale in large, black cauldrons right over the open fire, just as they would cook stew or bake bread. Brewing became such an essential part of life that women with a knack for it could sell their ale for profit, earning them the title of “alewives.”

This wasn’t a side gig; it was a respected and even prestigious business. Alewives’ brewing skills became the cornerstone of medieval communities. Their homes often doubled as small taverns or alehouses, bustling with regulars. These alehouses served as gathering places where neighbors could socialize, trade news, and share in the warmth of community. In some ways, the alehouses of medieval alewives were the original neighborhood breweries.

Brewing as a Family Affair

Running an alehouse was often a family affair. Alewives might involve their children in the brewing process, teaching them the tricks of the trade while keeping them close to home. This allowed women to balance the demands of motherhood with those of their business—kids helped grind grains, fetch water, and keep the cauldrons bubbling. And as the children grew up, many took on more significant roles, giving the alewives the ability to expand their production. It’s fair to say that some of the earliest “family breweries” were those run by alewives in their homes!

Cauldrons, Brooms & the Transformation of Alewives into “Witches”

Over time, the successful, independent alewife became the target of suspicion, fueled by rising competition from male brewers and societal pressures. As brewing shifted to male-run guilds and urban breweries, women brewers began facing accusations and superstitions. Here’s where the classic “witch” symbols come into play.

Cauldrons: Alewives brewed in large cauldrons, which would often emit steamy clouds, filling the air with earthy, herbal scents. To those unfamiliar, the sight of a woman stirring her bubbling cauldron looked like she was cooking up more than just ale.
Broomsticks: When alewives hung a broom above their door, it was a sign they had ale available for sale. But as accusations of witchcraft spread, this broomstick symbol took on a more sinister meaning.
Pointed Hats: In crowded marketplaces, alewives wore tall, conical hats to make themselves visible from afar—a practical, clever way to attract customers. Yet, in later years, this very hat became associated with witchcraft and evil.

With the church’s influence, women brewers were portrayed as supernatural, satan-worshiping, outcasts. Independent women who made a living and operated their own businesses were seen as threats to the social order—especially those who were single or widowed, and therefore not under the control of a husband. Many of these Alewives - previously respected and revered for their roles in keeping their communities afloat - were cruelly accused of witchcraft. An accusation, that when levied by a respected church member, held a lot of weight.

While the famous Salem Witch Trials cannot be directly linked to the women having been alewives, those were not the only women accused of witchcraft. Women across the world were accused and murdered for their “witchcraft” - and as it turns out, many of them were just selling potable drinks to their neighbors.

Nowadays, witchcraft has lighter connotations - it is fun to dress up on Halloween in a pointy hat, long black dress, and throw faux soot on your face. I’ve done it, most of us have. In fact, if you join us on this Thursday night’s tours, you will meet an alewife/witch on the trail (who is wearing my hat).

My goal in writing this is not to make you feel bad for that joy. Rather the opposite, actually. I am writing this post because this information made me feel connected to a long legacy of fellow women in beer that I didn’t know existed. I am writing this in hopes that a fellow woman who works in or loves craft beer might feel that same connection.

Though many alewives faced intense scrutiny and accusations, they didn’t give up their craft. Even as they were pushed out of the industry, many women continued to brew secretly, preserving their techniques and skills. While these days witchcraft might not be such a big deal, and brewing is for everyone - it’s worth remembering that alewives set the stage for this wonderful world of craft beer. Both the drinks, and the communities.

Cheers to the Witches!

Next time you enjoy a pint in one of our West Sixth taprooms, raise it in honor of the alewives—without them we wouldn’t be here.

Their legacy is a reminder of brewing’s rich, diverse history and a celebration of the resilience of women who found their place in a challenging world. From their bubbling brews to their pointed hats, alewives are a crucial part of the story behind every pour, and their spirit lives on in today’s thriving craft beer culture.

FASCINATED BY WITCHES AND THE SPOOKIER PART OF BREWING? JOIN US THIS HALLOWEEN FOR WEST SIXTH FRIGHT NIGHT & HAUNTED BREWERY TOUR!

Bibliography & Further Reading

Winters, Riley. “Bubbling Brews and Broomsticks: How Alewives Became the Stereotypical Witch.” Ancient Origins, July 15, 2021. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.ancient-origins.net/history/bubbling-brews-broomsticks-001

National Women’s History Museum. “A History of Women in Beer and Brewing.” National Women’s History Museum. Accessed October 28, 2024. https://www.womenshistory.org/history-women-beer-brewing

Gately, Iain. Drink: A Cultural History of Alcohol. New York: Gotham Books, 2008.

Burns, William E. Witch Hunts in Europe and America: An Encyclopedia. Westport: Greenwood Press, 2003.

Pechey, John. The Compleat Midwife’s Companion: Or, the Art of Midwifery Improved. London: H. Bonwicke, 1698. (For historical references to brewing practices by women in early modern Europe)

Gosson, Stephen. The Schoole of Abuse. London: Thomas Woodcocke, 1579. (Early texts that reflect the perception of women brewers)

Watkins, Charles. The Cultural Origins of Medieval Witchcraft. Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1999.