About
Barley’s Angels is a growing collection of individual chapters around the world that work with craft beer focused breweries, brewpubs, restaurants, alehouses and other public beer establishments to advance the female consumer craft beer enthusiast, resulting in increased patronage and revenue from women, while encouraging education and interest in beer among this often under-recognized demographic group.
Barley’s Angels is not just a social, beer-drinking club for women. Barley’s Angels respect beer and brewing, have a thirst for education, enjoy beer responsibly and act appropriately at all times.
The Chicago chapter of Barley’s Angels was founded in September of 2012 and we strive to meet every month. The best way to find out about our events is to sign up for our newsletter.
How do I join?
Just come to an event! We love welcoming new members and curious one-timers (but don't be surprised if you end up coming to another event!). We're a women-focused group of dedicated craft beer enthusiasts, but we're not snobby. We don't care if you're a seasoned brewer or if you're still learning what styles you like. All interest-levels are welcome!
About Our Organizers
Shannan Bunting
Shannan is a lifelong Chicagoan. As the founder of the food/beverage/green practice-focused public relations agency, Solstice Communications, mom of two and co-conspirator (organizer) of Barley’s Angels Chicago, Shannan has a lot of opportunity to experience the best that Chicago has to offer in food and beverage. A beer explorer, Shannan was visiting breweries and requesting tours long before that was a “thing” outside of the Old Milwaukee factory or seeing the Clydesdales at Budweiser’s St. Louis operation. She and her husband visited Rogue Brewing in Oregon when it was nothing more than a place with a few barstools and some delicious chili. Another early stop was Otto Brothers Brewing, now Grand Teton Brewing, where they first learned about growlers from the brewer that brought the pre-Prohibition vessel back to life. If time and dedication make you an expert—then Shannan is an expert.
She enjoys organizing events for Barley’s Angels Chicago and all the fantastic women and beer industry professionals she meets through its events—plus it allows her to keep exploring. A stout lover, Shannan’s local favorites include: Revolution Brewing’s Eugene Porter, Goose Island Beer Company’s Bourbon County Stout and Wild Onion Brewery’s Drago.
Zoe Jacobs
Zoe has been a craft beer enthusiast since she first set foot in a small bottle shop in Lincoln Park on her way home from a long day of work and class, not long after she turned 21 (a decade ago!). Her craft beer obsession grew when she volunteered to help with social media management for a new beer festival in her hometown in 2012. Not long after that she was running the accounts for all of the beer festival company’s 15 yearly events, plus doing press relations and volunteering at fests across Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin. This put her up close with the industry and she fell more and more in love with the atmosphere, excitement, camaraderie, and of course the beer! Zoe started attending Barley’s Angels events as a regular member in 2014 and became a co-organizer in the fall of 2018.
She loves helping Shannan plan and put together events, spreading the word via the newsletter, social media accounts, and of course this website, tapping her industry knowledge and digital skills. In the daylight, Zoe is a UX Content Strategist for a tech consulting company in River North. A suburban girl with roots in the city, her local favorites are: Solemn Oath, Metropolitan, Revolution, and Miskatonic among many others!
Barley's Angels In The News
Barley’s Angels Chicago has been getting a lot of attention lately and we are excited to be part of this amazing community! Here’s what other folks have to say about us:
Our International Women's Day collaboration beer with Spiteful Brewing, a Red IPA called Scorned, was featured in Forbes in their Mother's Day Spring Beer Gift Guide
We’re among some amazing women breaking the stigma of a “woman’s palate”. Read on in RedEye here.
There’s a world of craft beer out there, and we want you to experience it all! Chicago Woman has the scoop here.
Shannan and Kylie were quoted in an article in Forbes about breweries greening their beer. Read more here.
Gaper’s Block was kind enough to sit down with us to chat about Barley’s Angels Chicago! Read more here.
Love Girl Scout Cookies? Love Beer? Check out our advice in Chicagoist on how to pair the two together!
We also are forever grateful to local beer pubs like Beeronaut and RedEye for including our events in its round-ups.