Sophie de Ronde
Sophie de Ronde | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1983 United Kingdom |
| Occupation(s) | Brewing professional, head brewer |
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Known for | Head brewer at Burnt Mill Brewery; founder of International Women's Collaboration Brew Day; co-founder of Beer Day Britain; Brewer of the Year (2019) |
Sophie de Ronde (born 1983) is a British brewing professional who has served as the head brewer at Burnt Mill Brewery in Suffolk since 2017. Prior to this role, she spent seven years at Brentwood Brewing Company from 2007 until 2014. In recognition of her contributions to the industry, she was honored with the "Brewer of the Year" award by the British Guild of Beer Writers in 2019. De Ronde is the founder of the International Women's Collaboration Brew Day and also played a key role in establishing Beer Day Britain. Notably, due to allergies to wheat and barley, she is unable to consume most beers.
Brewing career
De Ronde began her journey in brewing working as a bar staff member and cellar manager at The Hoop, a traditional ale pub located in Stock, Essex. She advanced to become head brewer at Brentwood Brewing Company in 2007, a position she held for approximately seven years. During her tenure there, she initiated the International Women's Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD) in 2014 to align with International Women's Day. This event brings together female brewers globally to produce a shared recipe, with proceeds directed towards charitable causes. The event saw participation increase from over 100 brewers in 2015 to 126 by 2018. Alongside beer writer Jane Peyton and brewer Sara Barton, de Ronde co-founded Beer Day Britain, an annual event celebrating British beer culture on 15 June.
Towards the end of 2014, de Ronde took on a role at malt producer Muntons in Stowmarket as a product development and brewing technologist, contributing to the creation of new beers and malt extracts tailored for homebrewers. It was during this period that she identified her allergies to barley and wheat, essential ingredients in beer production.
Despite these challenges, she continued her brewing career and was appointed head brewer at Burnt Mill Brewery near Stowmarket in 2017. Her allergies led her to experiment with alternative grains such as oats and necessitate the use of protective gear when handling barley or wheat. Within a year of her leadership, Burnt Mill earned the title of "Best New Brewery in the UK" from Ratebeer. In 2019, de Ronde herself was recognized as "Brewer of the Year" by the British Guild of Beer Writers.
Personal life
De Ronde earned a bachelor's degree in equine science from Writtle University College.