In celebration of National Women’s Month, I wanted to put Erica Shea, the charismatic co-founder of Brooklyn Brew Shop and FarmSteady, on your radar. As a female beer authority and entrepreneur, Erica has worked hard to establish her voice within an industry that’s long been dominated by men. As Brooklyn Brew Shop is poised to celebrate its 10 year anniversary this summer, the timing is ideal for Erica to reflect on her experiences as a leader within the beer (specifically homebrewing) community.
Erica’s journey into the expansive world of beer first began in 2009, when she stumbled on her father’s old home-brewing equipment in her childhood basement. She repurposed the items and gifted them to her then-boyfriend (now husband and business partner), Stephen Valand, and they began experimenting with unique and unusual beer recipes. They were immediately impressed by the caliber of beer they were able to brew at home and realized that other urbanites might share their interest –– they took a risk and launched a homebrewing kit of their own, Brooklyn Brew Shop, at the Brooklyn Flea in the summer of 2019. The idea was to make beer-brewing accessible to everyone, and provide the tools necessary for creators of varying levels to succeed in their endeavors.
Erica believes that beer transcends gender, and she uses her position of leadership to encourage all kinds of people to try their hand at home-brewing. Her company’s easy-to-use beer kits, mixes and accessories are now available in more than 3,000 stores in 25 countries, including Whole Foods, Bed, Bath & Beyond, Nordstrom, and Urban Outfitters. She has lectured and taught classes for Etsy, Stone Barns Center, Beer Bloggers Conference, South by Southwest Interactive, and the American Museum of Natural History, and is the co-author of The Brooklyn Brew Shop’s Beer Making Book (2012) and Make Some Beer (2014).