International Women's Day - Rational Creatures IPA 2024
For International Women's Day on the 8th March we'll be releasing our 2024 version of Rational Creatures IPA (4.3%)
Recently brewed by the women of Bellfield, expect a fresh, flavourful pale ale with a honeyed, creamy, malty core and a pronounced stone fruit and citrus kick.
This year is the fifth time that the women of Bellfield have got together to brew a special beer to mark International Women's Day (IWD) on 8th March.
The first International Women's Day (IWD) was held in March 1911 when over one million women (and men) attended rallies worldwide, campaigning to end inequality and promote women's rights to work, vote, and hold public office. Read more on History.com about ‘The Surprising History of International Women’s Day’.
IWD isn't country, group or organisation specific. It's a day of collective global activism and celebration that belongs to all those committed to forging women's equality.
This year’s IWD 2024 campaign theme is ‘Inspire Inclusion’. The #InspireInclusion campaign aims to forge a more inclusive world for women.
The IWD website says “When we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world. And when women themselves are inspired to be included, there's a sense of belonging, relevance, and empowerment. Collectively, let's forge a more inclusive world for women.”
Never has that seemed a more important goal.
There’s more about the IWD 2024 campaign theme available at internationalwomensday.com.
This year’s brew was designed by five of us: Marie Brown, Director; Anna Orr, Sales & Marketing Manager; Giselle Dye, co-founder; Cate Fraser, Taproom team member and Sula Wilding, a super talented photographer and videographer.
Getting together last October to discuss the type of beer we’d like to brew for IWD 2024, we discovered that our ideas were remarkably aligned.
We wanted to brew a pale ale reminiscent of our first-ever IWD brew in 2020 (Mimosa) which never really got the launch it deserved because one week after its launch, we went into Lockdown!
We quickly agreed that the 2024 brew should be similarly light straw gold in colour, fragrant and floral, with aromatic backnotes of honey, citrus and stone fruit reinforced with a malty core.
Scottish Extra Pale and Vienna malts make up the largest proportion of base malt together with a mixture of caramelised malts fora biscuity backbone. Oats deliver mouthfeel and help to achieve a tasty beer with a satisfying, creamy head that lasts all the way down the glass. We made four hop additions: 'Magnum' for a clean bitterness; 'Amarillo' and 'Cascade' to bring those beautiful orange-y and citrusynotes and 'Nelson Sauvin' for aromas of tangerine and stone-fruit. Finally, a dry hop of Cascade, Amarillo and Nelson Sauvin in the fermenter, adds even more character and flavour.
Brewing our beer
All five of us took part in the brew day in mid January, fortified by strong coffee, pains au chocolat and a special lunchtime treat: Stottie cake with ham and pease pudding (prepared by Marie who hails from Sunderland)!
Sula took some incredible photos and video which you can see in this moody, vibey edit here.
We think it’s one of the best we’ve brewed and look forward to hearing the feedback from customers in our Taproom when it’s launched in a few weeks time.
This year’s beer will go straight into keg and cask for enjoying as fresh as possible.
Rational Creatures IPA 2024 – launch at the Bellfield Taproom
Rational Creatures IPA 2024 will be launched as a limited edition beer, in keg and cask, at the Bellfield Taproom on Thursday 7th March – book your table. We'll be donating 50p for every pint of it sold over that weekend in our Taproom to Scottish Women’s Aid, a charity that’s close to our hearts. They work to prevent domestic abuse through a network of 36 specialist local Women’s Aid groups.
Where to buy
In addition to our serving at our Taproom, we also have 5 litre mini casks available to buy online.
You'll also be able to try it out for yourself from Friday the 8th in any of the 25 Edinburgh pubs on the map below. We'd like to give a special mention to the The Bow Bar on Victoria Street where we'll have a Tap Takeover from the 8th March featuring seven different Bellfield Beers!
Also in Lastest News from Bellfield
Tap Takeover: International Women's Day at The Bow Bar
Always strong supporters of International Women's Day, this year Edinburgh’s renowned Bow Bar has gone the extra mile!
Clara and Lili, two of the female members of the Bow Bar’s team, have brewed their very own bespoke beer in celebration of IWD 2024. They visited Bellfield Brewery on a cold weekend in February, to brew a Belgian Pale Ale that they’ve named “Sweet Dreams Are Made of Yeast”. This 6% ABV pale ale is hoppy and malty in equal measure.
Christmas at Bellfield Taproom & Beer Garden
If you’re looking for a perfect festive venue for your Christmas party, team drinks or get-together with friends and family, the Bellfield Taproom and Beer garden has you covered.
