Brewer Jordan Walls led the project, guiding a cross�’department group of female employees through each stage of the brewing process and providing practical instruction in recipe execution, hop additions, and production workflow.

Walls, who oversees the brewery’s pilot system, said the goal was to give employees direct experience with brewing techniques while encouraging participation from women across the company. The group included Patricia Brusven, Kathy Rathmann, Deb Spradling, Danielle Dobie, and Sheri Davis, each of whom took part in the brew day.

Participants were involved in multiple steps of the process. Spradling and Dobie added hops to the boil, contributing to the beer’s balanced hop character. Davis also added hops during the boil, helping develop the lager’s medium hop presence, bitterness from Sterling hops, and aroma from Tettnang�’Tettnanger hops. The additions supported the beer’s light malt profile and its intended easy�’drinking style.

Brusven and Rathmann assisted throughout the production day, working alongside the others as Walls explained timing, temperature control, and the role of each ingredient. The collaborative format allowed employees from different departments to gain exposure to brewing fundamentals while contributing to the final product.

Sheri Davis adding hops to boil during the brew process for the new “Doe A Beer.” (Photo taken by Jordan Walls)

Doe A Beer remains a limited release available only in Schell’s taproom, the Bierhalle. The beer has been brewed annually on the pilot system, with interest in potential expansion if production capacity and market conditions allow.

Walls said she hopes the lager will eventually reach a wider audience but noted that its recurring limited release has become part of the brewery’s Women’s History Month programming.

The Pilot Series functions as a testing ground for new recipes, allowing the brewery to evaluate cost, market interest, and scalability before considering broader distribution.

Marketing representative Johnny Germsheid said the series provides room for experimentation and has produced several successful beers. One example is the Peanut Butter Chocolate Porter, which began as a pilot batch and later expanded to distribution across six states.

Walls addressed common assumptions about the project. She said the beer is not intended to fit gendered expectations.

From left: Jordan Wells, Patricia Brusven, Kathy Rathmann, Deb Spradling and Danielle Dobie raise a glass of Doe A Beer during its Women’s History Month release at Schell’s Brewery. All five played a role in brewing this year’s Dortmunder‑style lager. (Photo by Johnny Germsheid)

“For the record, it is not a ‘girl beer’ because there is no such thing,” she said. The initiative, she added, is designed to provide education, encourage participation, and highlight the contributions of women working throughout the company.

The brew day also served as an opportunity for employees to learn from one another. Participants represented roles outside of production, including administrative and support positions, and used the experience to better understand the technical side of the brewery’s operations.

Walls said the hands�’on format helps demystify the brewing process and strengthens internal collaboration.

Walls said the initiative is intended to be practical rather than symbolic, focusing on skill�’building and direct participation.

The finished beer will be available in the Bierhalle while supplies last. As with previous years, the batch size is limited due to the capacity of the pilot system. The brewery will monitor customer response and consider whether the recipe may be suitable for future scaling.

Walls said she hopes the project continues to draw participation from employees across departments and helps broaden understanding of the technical work behind each release. She emphasized that the goal is practical education rather than symbolism.

“If someone walks away from brew day feeling more confident or more connected to what we do here, then it’s worth doing,” Walls said.