Sara Barton
Sara Barton | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965 Grantham Hospital, Grantham, Lincolnshire, England |
| Occupation(s) | Brewer, brewery proprietor |
| Known for | Proprietor of Brewster’s Brewery; first female Brewer of the Year by British Guild of Beer Writers; founder of Project Venus |
Sara Barton (born 1965) is the proprietor of Brewster’s Brewery located in Grantham, Lincolnshire. In 2012, she made history as the first female recipient of the British Guild of Beer Writers’ Brewer of the Year Award and was honored again in 2019 as Brewer of the Year by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling. Her range of beers has been recognized with numerous international accolades. In 2011, Barton established Project Venus, an initiative designed to unite women brewers in a collaborative network.
Personal life
Barton was born at Grantham Hospital in 1965 and raised in Redmile, where her family operated a guesthouse; her father was employed by her grandfather’s firm, Barton Transport based in Nottingham. She completed her schooling at Belvoir High and King Edward VII School, Melton Mowbray. During her Biochemistry studies at University College North Wales, she developed a passion for brewing through a course on yeast genetics. Barton subsequently obtained a master's degree in Brewing and Distilling from Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh, in 1987. After brief periods working within the pharmaceutical sector and sugar syrup manufacturing, she committed to a career in brewing. She is married to Sean McCardle, with whom she has a daughter born in 2005.
Brewing career
Barton gained experience at several Courage Brewery production facilities located in Bristol, Reading, and Tadcaster, ultimately advancing to Production Manager at their Berkshire brewery, which was then Europe’s largest. She later pursued an MBA at Bradford School of Management before launching Brewster’s Brewery in 1998—the name paying homage to the historic term used for female brewers. The brewery’s inaugural beer, “Maiden Brew,” was crafted in a barn behind her parents’ residence. Additionally, Barton co-owns the Marquis of Granby pub situated in the Vale of Belvoir, which is managed by her husband.
Women brewers
In 2011, Barton initiated Project Venus, a quarterly gathering for female brewers from England and Ireland to collaborate on new beer creations. This network advocates for gender equality by encouraging dialogue, education, and cooperative brewing efforts, providing women in the beer industry with an inclusive platform. Drawing inspiration from the Pink Boots Society, Project Venus supports up-and-coming female brewers and seeks to reconnect brewing with its historical origins when women predominantly led the craft. Barton is acknowledged as a pioneer who champions creativity and innovation within brewing, offering an alternative to the traditionally male-centric industry that often emphasizes conventional styles. Her brewery also produces special edition ales to celebrate International Women's Day.
Awards
In 2012, Barton became the first woman to be awarded Brewer of the Year by the British Guild of Beer Writers after two decades of exclusively male winners. She was again recognized as Brewer of the Year by the Institute of Brewing and Distilling in 2019. Her American Pale Ale received Gold at the 2011 International Beer Challenge; Helles earned Silver at the 2012 Society of Independent Brewers competition; and Hophead secured Gold at the 2015 International Brewing Awards. She achieved another Gold medal at the International Brewing Awards in 2016 and was named Brewer of the Year by the All Parliamentary Beer Group in 2018. Her Decadence ale is listed in Roger Protz's "300 Beers to Try Before You Die."