Better Brother Brewing Co. empowers women to learn about craft beer

When you picture the owner of a craft brewery, you likely aren’t picturing Jocelyn Rushton.

The mother of two is the co-owner of Better Brother Brewing Co., a small craft brewery in downtown Saskatoon. She can often be found in the microbrewery’s taproom greeting patrons with her three-month-old daughter, Stevie, on her hip.

While a handful of local breweries in Saskatoon are owned and operated by women, most brewhouses are still run by men — a stereotype that can be hard to overcome.

“It is definitely a male dominant industry,” said Rushton, who added that customers are often surprised when she answers the phone.

“They are asking for the man, and I’m like, ‘No, you can talk to me too,’ ” she laughed.

Jocelyn owns and operates the business with her husband, Jeff, and his twin brother, Nathan.

While today she is a beer enthusiast who embraces the many flavour profiles of craft beer, that hasn’t always been the case.

“I used to think beer was gross until I tried craft beer,” Rushton said.

“We are trying to open up the world of craft beer to people to understand that there (are) many different flavours in it. It’s not just one type of beer that tastes the same,” she explained.

“You have your sours. You have ones with lactose, so they are sweeter. Our blonde is a very easy-drinking beer.”

Heather Kernohan, one of the attendees at the fourth annual Women’s Brew event at Better Brother Brewing Co. on March 27, 2024, mixes the ingredients being used to create a limited edition craft beer. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

To highlight the wide variety of craft beers available, including non-alcoholic options, the trio hosts an annual event to celebrate women and educate people in the community about the methods they use to create their brews. Better Brother Brewing Co.’s Women’s Brew 2024, the fourth annual event, was held in March.

Attendee Heather Kernohan was thrilled to get a behind-the-scenes look at the brewing process.

“I literally know nothing about brewing. I’ll support it, and I’ll drink the beer, but I don’t know what goes on behind the curtain. I had no idea all the chemistry that’s involved.

“I go to wine tastings and I learn about that, but I haven’t really learned it about beer. So yeah, it’s cool.”

This year’s participants helped create a limited-edition brew called Trop-a-NEIPA that will be ready to serve in the taproom in about a month.

The name, which sounds like a popular orange juice brand, is fitting since NEIPA-style beers are known to taste, smell and look like juice.

Jeff Rushton, the brewmaster, walked the group — which mainly consisted of women — through the brewing process and explained the importance of each ingredient.

For event attendees, creating a brew and learning about many of the centuries-old techniques still used today was eye-opening and left them with a thirst for more knowledge and more types of craft beer.

‘I’m way more willing to try now that I know what all of these things do and all of the things that they have to put into it. I think I’d go with more of a curious palette,” said participant Deena Simair.

Deena Simair, one of the attendees at the fourth annual Women’s Brew event at Better Brother Brewing Co. on March 27, 2024, adds some malt to the brew under the supervision of brewery co-owner Jeff Rushton. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

While this Women’s Brew event only happens once a year, Rushton says they are always happy to welcome curious newcomers to their business.

“We encourage people to come in. If you’ve never been in a brewery, come to our brewery,” Rushton said.

“Our staff would love to explain it to you, walk you through it, tell you certain ones that you might like more than others because there are still some strong powerful beers that I don’t even like.”

Better Brother Brewing Co.’s Trop-a-NEIPA will be available on tap in the microbrewery in about a month, with a portion of sales donated to Saskatoon Interval House, an emergency temporary shelter for women and their children.