ABOUT THE WENCH
Although I do have a real name, most people know me best as The Beer Wench. Some call me Wenchie, and others just call me Wench.
Beer is my life, literally. I am head over heels for beer. Beer is one of my greatest passions in life — along with wine, food, travel & Ohio State football.
These days, everything I do revolves around beer. I work in the beer industry. I play in the beer industry. Beer is my career, my hobby and my lifestyle.
I am a hophead. I am in love with the bitter, flavorful taste of pure hops. So much, in fact, that I enjoy chewing on dried hop leaves like others may enjoy on chewing gum.
I am a sour fanatic. I love Brett and stinky wild yeast. I love “mouth-ripping” sour beers.
I am a high gravity girl. The bigger, the bolder, the better. Smack me in the face with as much flavor as humanly possible.
I love beer.
I am confident enough in my knowledge to call myself a beer connoisseur. Unfortunately, I cannot claim the title of “beer afficianado” quite yet. While I’m not an expert, I’m no novice either.
I aspire to be the “female version” of Michael Jackson — a beer evangelist harnessing an affinity for writing to spread the good word of beer all over the world.
I have called myself many names before, such as “beer brat”, “beer geek” and “hophead,” but no title seems more appropriate than “The Beer Wench.” To me, “The Beer Wench” is unpretentious and playful, which is exactly the main mantra of this blog.
For all of you literalists out there, I’m not a real beer wench. The Urban Dictionary defines beer wench as both:
1. A voluptuous female pirate type woman, usually with a fiery attitude, and usually seen around taverns and bars, seaside fishing towns, and wherever pirates roam.
2. A scantily clad girl, hired for an hourly fee (eg. AU$65) to wait hand and foot on groups of thirsty Australian cricket fans, allowing them to enjoy the cricket, which can last for up to 5 days.
Well, hate to disappoint but I am neither voluptuous or not scantly clad and DEFINITELY NOT a beer servant for men. However, I most certainly have a fiery attitude and I can definitely be found in taverns and bars as well as around seaside fishing towns … and wherever pirates may roam!
The purpose of my beer blog is to share relevant and interesting beer knowledge, suggestions, and experiences with the rest of the online beer loving community. I believe in the power of social media. My goal is to inspire conversation, instead of giving lectures. Having dialogs with others about beer is entirely more fun than giving monologues!
My palate is not the end all be all, yes I am aware. This is why I love to experience beers through others. Hearing and reading about the experiences are others have had with the beers that I taste is quite possibly the best way to learn! I am always interested in receiving feedback from others regarding their personal beer experiences.
The beauty of beer is all in the palate of the beholder, right?
Cheers!
M.J. Clark June 1st, 2008 at 6:47 am
Hi there! I’m a friend of Nate Riggs. He told me about your site, and I’ve been a big fan ever since.
I’m wondering how to get on the Beer Wench’s calendar. I drink on a bi-monthly-ish basis with a group of ladies (mostly marketing and PR types), and we’re interested in either inviting you along the next time or finding out where you are going next so we can join your following.
I’m quite certain you are aware of more (better?) watering holes than our novice group. So if you are interested in getting together with our humble drinking clan, please let me know and we’ll try to find a mutually acceptable date/time/place.
Cheers!
M.J. Clark
Ben Walters July 11th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
I found you site through twitter. I have to say I love it. If you haven’t had the privilage I highly suggest a beer tour of Belgium, it can certainly make an expert out of a novice. I am looking forward to hearing more of your beer suggestions and I may even have a few for you.
The Beer Babe July 29th, 2008 at 9:05 pm
Hey girl, found you on twitter and I’d like to add a link to your blog on mine, is that cool? Great to find a fellow babe who loves beer!
“Give me a woman who loves beer and I will conquer the world” – Kaiser Wilhelm
Thanks,
The Beer Babe
http://beer-babe.blogspot.com
The Beerbuddha July 30th, 2008 at 7:43 am
Found you on The Aleuminati and would love to add a link from your site to my blog. Is that cool?
Wes September 22nd, 2008 at 9:33 am
Hello and goodbye from you guy an World Market @ Lennox. As one of my best customers you will be missed. More importantly, you will be missed as a friendly face. I will miss our conversations. Be sure to visit when ever you are in town.
Wes
Brian Tokarik September 26th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
Hello,
My name is Brian Tokarik and I work at MicroMatic.com. We just launched a new Beer Social Network. It would be great to have you guys join.
http://kegerator-social-network.micromatic.com/
The Benefits for you would be that you could have your own page on the network similar to MySpace etc, that would send traffic to your site. You will also be able to syndicate your blog on the network.
We also have an affiliate program:
program.http://affiliates.micromatic.com/
Any questions please email me.
Brian
Tbim October 29th, 2008 at 4:21 pm
Very nice blog Beer Wench!
Cheers!
Tbim
Matt November 11th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Im trying to quote your website, what’s your name again?
Matt
Matt November 11th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
I hope you are Ashley Routson, if not… I have no problem with pirates, I dont like scurvy though.
matt
Brew Hilda November 15th, 2008 at 8:19 pm
Hey, I heard you’ve moved to Florida,
guess you should update this.
Love your site-
FUN
BUBBLY
DESCRIPTIVE
It’s like taste-o-vision.
Excellent job!
And I know you well enough to say that the name
“Beer Wench” suits you, but you are just as knowledgeable about grape juice, too.
How do you choose?!
somalilink December 8th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I don’t know how I found your blog, but I live in Columbus and there are several great places to get a nice variety of beers.
I love beer, but probably not as much as you. I do however enjoy trying new ones as often as I can. I’ve found that the Anderson’s General Store on Federated Blvd. is a really nice place to find unique beers. World Market is also an excellent choice.
So far my favorites have got to be the weird ones like Great Lakes Nosferatu and Maudite. I also love the Dwarf Ale and the Hobgoblin Brew! Can you imagine a Dark Elf taking a swig of Dwarfen Ale? Needless to say it’s an interesting experience!
Marissa December 15th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
As a fellow female Ohioan and rabid (foaming mouth, even) beer enthusiast, I must applaud you for further demolishing the stereotype that beer is a man’s drink, and for playfully and intelligently discussing beer with an open mind with little snobbery. (I think it’s okay to be a little snobby–otherwise, we’d have terrible or nonexistent standards for what is good.)
I live in Cleveland, so I’ve got Great Lakes Brewing Co., Willoughby Brewing Co., Cornerstone Brewing Co., Buckeye Brewing, and a few others. Isn’t Ohio a great state for beer?
I just read your review of the Founders Breakfast Stout. Easily one of my favorite beers…ever.
Anyway, this is becoming uninteresting. Just wanted to thank you for all that you do…
Adventurous Wench December 21st, 2008 at 2:30 pm
Hi Beer Wench!
Just dropping in to see what other wenches are up to. Looks like you’re having lots of fun, and I’m feeling the desire for a beer coming on. It is Sunday afternoon after all, and there’s football on TV.
Good job on the blog, and best of luck with it.
Evans January 2nd, 2009 at 12:40 am
Hello there!
I just found your site on Technorati, and it is awesome! Excellent writing. I have a wheat beer (i saw you’re a fan of belgians) review blog called Whootbeer!, and If it is ok, i’d like to add a link to your site on mine.
Awesome blog!
The Beer Wench January 2nd, 2009 at 12:32 pm
Thanks! I will add your blog to my site as well! Cheers, new friend!
Guitar Dad January 7th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
Nice brewski blog. I look forward to following your thirsty exploits.
Chuck Cook January 17th, 2009 at 1:31 pm
Hey Beer Wench!
It’s great to see that you love the lambic beers….the good ones!
Ever been to Belgium?
There are a couple of great lambic/gueuze events coming up in Belgium in the Spring.
The Tour de Gueuze, which happens only every two years, will be Sunday April 26. I plan to be there.
See: http://www.horal.be/tdg2009.html
There is also a great beer fest, the Weekend of Spontaneous Fermentation, in Buggenhout, May 30-31:
http://www.bierpallieters.be/?a=4&lang=eng
Photos from last year:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/belgianbeerspecialist/sets/72157605535165494/
I mentioned the lambic beers and HORAL in my Belgian beer feature article in the January 2009 issue of All About Beer magazine.
Cheers,
Chuck Cook
http://belgianbeerspecialist.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/belgianbeerspecialist/sets
The Beer Wench January 21st, 2009 at 7:49 pm
I would love love love love love to do the tour de gueuze … but I’m not sure that I have enough time to save the money and plan the trip this year! Bummer!
WW February 4th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
As a west coast Buckeye fan just wanted to give you props for a few things:
1) First good looking Buckeye female athlete I have ever seen.
2) Drinking good beer
3) Ability to keep two blogs going despite being a drunk
If you are ever in the San Francisco area give me a ring. I will give you the beer tour (its a good one!) and buy you a few beers. We can laugh about Maurice Clarett’s insanity and cry about the bowl losses.
Nick February 6th, 2009 at 12:57 pm
HOPSLAM is here…..Yessssssssssssssssssssssss
Bought for $12.50 / 6 nice!!!!!
I agree whole hoppidly…….the best double with two hearted my (or as we fondly call it who farted) fav year round.
Nick
Russell Haug April 29th, 2009 at 9:29 pm
This is an outstanding blog and one that truly shows what it means to be helplessly in love with beer without the pretension. I would like to add a link to your site from my blog…you don’t have to thank me for the extra 3-7 readers per week, but my favorite kind of cookies are white chocolate/macadamia. Just saying!
Mike May 14th, 2009 at 7:26 am
Hey Ashley. I met you last night at ale house, thought Id check out your blog and I have to say…. It’s pretty amazing. Hopefully I run into you again because I aparently erased your number? Oh, and sorry for almost killing your friend;) email me. Volcomrippr@aol
Beerlander May 19th, 2009 at 9:59 pm
Dear Beer Wench,
I’d like to invite you to make the trek north to the Great Lakes Brew Fest on Sept. 19 in Racine, WI on the lovely shore of Lake Michigan.
Cheers!
Beerlander
The Beer Wench May 28th, 2009 at 6:46 pm
Beerlander – It appears that The Wench will be in your presence this fall … all the way up there in Racine, WI for the Great Lakes Brew Fest on September 19th! Looking forward to it!
The Beer Wench
gabstergirl June 5th, 2009 at 3:50 pm
Hello! A friend of mine from The Gingerman in CT told me about your blog and I’ve been reading ever since.
I write a blog for fellow female beer geeks that focuses on education about the wonderful world of craft beer. It’s called GAB (Girls for the Advancement of Beer), and I’d love to add you to our blog roll if it’s ok with you.
Can’t wait to see the next Beer Wench blog post!
Thanks!
Your friends at http://www.gabontap.com
paul June 11th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Great reading your blog, we agree that it is all about the hops. Sorry you left Columbus, I returned here after 20 years in the Navy drinking cheap beer Olympia, PBR, Schlitz and other canned crap. I was 50 before I figured out what good beer really was, probably the explosion of micro-brews helped. My favorite Columbus watering hole is Gallos on Bethel and now that I have found Bell’s Two Hearted it has been hard leave it. The girls at Gallos always make sure I sample everything new and I always try to mix some Flying Dog brews into my variety. Thanks for the read.
The Beer Wench June 11th, 2009 at 9:44 am
My leaving Columbus was bitter sweet. I doubt that I will ever find the sense of community and quality of friends that I found there. However, as a native New Yorker – I grew “out” of the city quickly and needed to spread my wings elsewhere. I am destined for a life of a gypsy. But I will always remember and love my good friend, Columbus. As for great watering holes, check out: Tip Top Kitchen & Cocktails, Betty’s Fine Food & Spirits, Surly Girl Saloon & Bodega. All have remarkable beer selections. And all were common stomping grounds for me
The Beer Wench June 11th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Big fan of the GIRLS for the ADVANCEMENT of BEER movement! Woot woot!
chef gui September 7th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
nice blog, wenchie. we miss you here.
chef gui September 7th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
oh, fyi, the avatars are all pixelized. something wrong with your code.
Marie March 5th, 2010 at 11:10 am
found you via twitter – love your blog! I’m a hop fan too – 3floyds Dreadnaught is my all-time favorite.
cheers!
The Beer Wench (E.T. Crowe) April 6th, 2010 at 10:40 am
hey there
just reaching out this way (tried via Facebook but perhaps you didn’t get it)
we gotta connect! I love what you are doing. . .so like my own, albeit lamer attempts at humor/beer/femaleness. . .
have a great time in Chicago! I’m also a Realtor so I gotta stick around an sell some houses and monitor my brewery/tap room renovation status. . and work on getting some stories and a book published (another alter ego) .let’s chat! seriously!
give Sam Calagione (MY Beer Crush) a huge smooch for both wenches!
cheers
ET Crowe
A2 Beer Wench
http://www.a2beerwench.com
or for the hotter stuff (including The TAp Room a serialized novel)
http://www.aabedwench.blogspot.com
Drew April 8th, 2010 at 12:00 pm
Love the design of your site! As a fellow beer blogger/web designer I can appreciate the work you put into this!
Love it!
Joseph Mari May 3rd, 2010 at 12:08 pm
You rock!
Matt Schroer May 11th, 2010 at 5:57 pm
Thanks, BW. For both my paper quote and my LinkedIn contact. I do hope you decide to come down to Alabama and check out Good People Brewing, Straight to Ale, Olde Towne, and a few others. Free the Hops.org can always use your help.
Thanks for yours,
Matt Schroer
ac reagan May 16th, 2010 at 6:22 am
hey! i’m a wine wench from the hudson valley, and we all know it takes lots of great beer to make good wine! traveling to st louis next week, any hot tips on brew pubs/beers not to miss?
Brewess May 16th, 2010 at 2:29 pm
Very nice site! Lovely and informative. Check out my site. It’s oriented to hobby female brewers. I’m talking more about brewing than tasting, but I do like beer.
brewess.wordpress.com
Marty Wombacher May 19th, 2010 at 12:39 pm
You have a cool site! Keep up the good beer blogging!
BRay July 23rd, 2010 at 10:44 am
You have a new follower in me!
John948 October 22nd, 2010 at 6:45 am
Very nice site!
Dylan October 27th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
Craft beer rules!!!!!!!