The Glasladies Beer Society, a Glasgow-based local beer appreciation group for women and non-binary people, is to launch a new festival alongside raising funds for charity this festive season.

Following on the success of its inaugural event last year, the group is hosting a fundraising beer festival on 8 December at the Glasgow University Union’s (GUU) Debates Chamber. Featuring a stellar line up of independent breweries and local establishments, the dual purpose of the event is to highlight the wealth of independent breweries in Scotland while raising funds for the Beatson Cancer Charity.

Returning to the festival are local breweries Simple Things Fermentations, Dookit Brewing Co, and Up Front Brewing. Joining them are Overtone Brewing Co, Spectra Brewing, Dead End Brew Machine, Two Towns Down from Paisley, and Edinburgh’s Jump Ship Brewing. In addition, the folk from Lunar Bar in Glasgow will be serving up natural wines and speciality cocktails.

Tickets are £8 and include admission and a festival glass with £2 going to the Beatson Cancer Charity. There will also be a raffle held during the festival with all proceeds donated to the charity. The festival is for over 18s only and the venue is fully accessible and dog friendly.

A Glasgow Southside favourite, the Bell Jar is the festival’s Gold Sponsor. Owner Steven Clark said: “We are delighted to again be sponsoring the Glasladies Beer Society festival. Not only has it created and consistently maintained a female and non-binary space within our male-dominated industry, but also given platforms to local independent breweries, aiding the constant struggle against the brewing behemoths and their increasingly corporate mindsets.”

Clark commends the group’s encouragement to learn about beer through social tasting sessions and gatherings as a great avenue to further increase representation in the field. He added: “We have been proud to host some of these occasions and would be very happy to do so again. We are also thrilled that funds raised will be going to a most worthy charity in these challenging times."

Kristin Flegal, a member of the Glasladies admin team, said: “At first I just appreciated the opportunity to join a social circle with other women who love beer, but before long I wanted to get more involved as it’s important to me that our community is increasingly visible.”

Flegal was part of the planning team for the group’s first festival, a sold-out success that raised valuable funds for a local women’s charity. The group has been continually asked about a follow up and hopes that the public will respond well to this event.

The Beatson Cancer Charity is also deeply personal to the Glasladies. Flegal said: “The crucial work they do for people with cancer has touched our group directly this year and we know the same will be true for many others in Glasgow. I am looking forward to a fantastic night in December and hope that many people will come out to support this worthy cause, all while enjoying some great beer from our indie breweries’ line-up.”

Sponsorship and raffle donations for the festival are still open. For more information contact glasladiesbeersociety@gmail.com

Tickets are now on sale here: https://tinyurl.com/GBSFestiveFundraiser