In 2016, Shyla Sheppard and Missy Begay officially opened the doors to the first ever Native women-owned brewery in the United States. Their beers are attention-demanding explorations of Indigenous and local Southwestern ingredients. Pilsners, hazy IPAs, sours, and farmhouse ales feature local blue corn, sumac, and prickly pear, and hand-foraged neomexicanus hops, the only hop indigenous to North America. They’ve translated their love of the land and their rich agricultural histories to incorporate ingredients that are foraged, sourced from Tribal agricultural enterprises, or grown on their rural property. They are creating initiatives they believe will make their industry more enduring. While they initially turned heads when they chose to open Bow & Arrow Brewing, they’ve since demonstrated the power of their unique voice and perspective and have made their mark on the industry with recent recognition, including being a 2024 James Beard Foundation Semifinalist and Best Brewery by VinePair.
That same year, the world’s first nonprofit dedicated to sharing stories of how beer has shaped humanity, was launched. A museum kid since the age 15, Liz Garibay has spent most of her life and career digging in archives and working in various academic institutions and cultural centers around the world (including the Peabody Museum at Harvard). Inspired by the legacies of these historic establishments, her own Mexican-American Midwestern heritage, and her vast work in examining untold tales of beer history, Garibay created the Beer Culture Center. The organization’s innovative approach to collaborations, spirited storytelling, and creative forward-thinking is exhibited in its expansive body of programming and has caused a stir in both the museum world and the beer industry.
We invite you to gather with us at Harvard University’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology & Ethnology for a special evening and conversation that digs into the way these women of color are changing the beer industry and more. Through Bow & Arrow Brewing, Shyla and Missy are perfect examples of the Beer Culture Center’s mission that beer is more than just a beverage. It is a dynamic cultural force with the ability to bring people together and the power to make change.
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
The conversation begins at 6pm.
A line-up of specially curated local beers will be available for purchase.
Beer-themed related activities.
This event is part of the Peabody’s ArtsThursdays series.