I guess men and women are from two different planets when it comes to beer and marketing. Today I happened upon "Chick Beer", a beer "designed from women". As a real beer drinker who goes beyond the generic big boys, I find this concept pretty laughable. There are all sorts of beer styles and flavors - from fruity to hoppy and bitter. Beyond packaging and the marketing, what exactly make a beer "a chick beer" or a "dude beer" - my guess, unless it packed with estrogen, is nothing. Now, I watch TV - so I know that Miller and Bud are heavily marketed to men, or more specifically "bros" and frat guys; yes, nothing makes me want to drink your beer more then embarrassing my friends, getting drunk instead of studying for my legal exam, or generally acting like a douche bag who couldn't get a job flipping burgers to afford better booze. Then again, I have a taste buds.

So how do you market a beer to women? I guess the kind of girl who wants a women-focused beer would be concerned with weight, design, and would probably like something smooth. It's hard for me to judge because Mrs. Beer Newb likes Yuengling and Guinness, you know beers that are marketed for their taste. So, let's take a look at Chick Beer - relatively low calories (97 calories and 3.5 carbs), smooth flavor, and carbonated. Their website front page goes on to talk about the design of the bottle and how holding it will make you more feminine... wow.... To quote their site: " The six-pack looks like you are carrying your beer in a hip stylish, purse." Clearly the fact that they don't describe the taste, style, or flavor should be an indicator of quality for all of our regular readers. Maybe some girls will just be happy enough that 5% of the proceeds goes to help "charities that empower women".

To me, it sounds little too gimmicky - right up there with brewing beer special for the royal wedding. I think its rather insulting, sexist, and demeaning to say that a beer for women is one that comes in nice packaging and has low calories. I am not even sure who the market is for this - sorority girls? No, they will just drink natty and busch. I can't see any real feminists buying into this since its so stereotypical in its marketing. This really isn't that much better than the marketing message from Coors and Bud which says your sexy and boys will want you if you drink our beer; is the message here, oh its soo cute and designer its worth overpaying to look trendy? In my opinion, the only difference between a women's and a men's beer would be if they put in vitamin mixes which were geared towards specific metabolic or other needs of the sexes, or if it came loaded with Viagra or Ortho Tri-Cyclen - now those would be interesting drinks.

Furthermore, from a business perspective - why would you go after only 25% of a market, a heavily controlled and difficult to penetrate market. Unless you are going to way overcharge for the novelty, I'm not sure the point. Perhaps from a private label perspective you might want to sell something gimmicky to spas and hair salons (which often serve martinis and wine to patrons). Ladies, if you want to support women in beer, forget Chick Beer and look towards real equalizers like the Beer Wench, Girl's Pint Out (which have already blogged against this crap), or actual female brewers making inroads in the seemingly male dominated beer world.

So ladies, drink up, but drink something good.

More Links for the ladies (keep emailing us to add more):

• Women Enjoying Beer: "Women Enjoying Beer (WEB) develops and serves the female beer enthusiast. We’re the only organization anywhere doing as much, from the consumer vantage point, to benefit the craft/beer industry."
• Taking the beard out of beer!: A British beer afficiandao and tasting judge gives it to you from a lady's pespective.