Brewing Equality

In 2021, the Brewers Association, a craft brewing industry group, released the results of a demographic audit of U.S. breweries, revealing that almost a quarter of brewery owners were women, yet less than 3% of breweries were fully woman-owned.

Here in Central Oregon, there is one fully woman-owned brewery: Spider City Brewing. The Bend operation was founded by twin sisters Melanie and Michele Betti, alongside their friend Tammy Treat. Their success proves the beer industry isn’t just a boys’ club.

Bend is no stranger to craft beer, but Spider City is breaking the mold. The founders met in college and bonded over a love of craft beer, but they didn’t just sip — they explored. Their global travels introduced them to diverse beer styles and brewing cultures, fueling their dream of opening a brewery in Bend, a city with a beer scene as bold as their ambitions.

Women in brewing face outdated stereotypes and limited visibility in a male-dominated industry. Despite many women-owned breweries struggling, Spider City proves that passion, dedication and community can create lasting success. The Source Weekly spoke with the women behind Spider City to discuss their mission, sustainability efforts and what it takes to succeed in an industry where women remain underrepresented.

Source Weekly: As a women-owned brewery, you’re breaking barriers. What challenges have you faced and what advantages come with being women-led in the craft beer industry?

Spider City Brewing: Any business has challenges. We focus on making a wide range of good beer to create an experience for our customers. Whether it’s our Polish-inspired Pavuchky Brewski (Polish wheat) or our Black Lava Sea Salt Baltic Porter, we keep things interesting. Women also have outstanding palates, which drives us to make delicious IPAs like our flagship Grazing Goat West Coast IPA and our award-winning Sneaky Deer Hazy Double IPA.

SW: Many women-owned breweries struggle. What sets Spider City apart? Does being women-owned come with a smaller margin for error?

SCB: We run as lean as possible without cutting quality or experience. We do much of the work ourselves to keep costs down with help from our families.

SW: What holds women back from brewing at the same rate as men?

SCB: Brewing requires heavy lifting and long days. Whether you’re a woman or a man, it’s a tough job that demands hard work and resilience. Women can and should brew as we bring a different perspective and palate to the table.

SW: Women-owned businesses often face unspoken expectations to be sustainable and community-driven while male-owned breweries focus on beer. Have you felt this pressure and how has it shaped your approach?

SCB: We haven’t felt that pressure, but we like to give back. We donate our time, brewery space and goods to local causes whenever possible.

SW: Sustainability is crucial in Central Oregon’s water-sensitive environment. How does Spider City approach water conservation and waste management?

SCB: We provide all of our spent grain to Lark Ranch Rescue and Rehabilitation in Redmond to feed farm animals. Our hop trub goes to Fields Farm in Bend for composting.

SW: Collaboration is key to your brewery’s ethos. Can you share a partnership or community initiative that’s made an impact?

SCB: We frequently partner with RylieMay Rescue Ranch, which rehomes senior dogs or provides them sanctuary. This partnership has helped us connect with other animal organizations we’ve been able to support.

SW: With the rise of nonalcoholic craft beers, have you considered brewing a N/A option?

SCB: We haven’t explored the N/A arena, but we focus on offering beers and seltzers under 5% ABV so customers can enjoy more than one drink.

SW: What’s the overall vision for Spider City?

SCB: We aim to continue bringing great beer to our customers and expand distribution to share our beer with a larger community.

SW: How did Spider City Brewing get its name?

SCB: Spider City was the name of our garage where we first started brewing. It lived up to its name!

Just as fermentation transforms simple ingredients into something bold and complex, women in craft beer are brewing more than just great beer — they’re shaping the future of the industry. This transformation isn’t swift or easy; it takes time, dedication and collaboration.

As the craft beer scene evolves, women’s contributions are vital ingredients to a cultural shift toward a more balanced, vibrant future. The craft beer world thrives on creativity, resilience and innovation — qualities that women bring in abundance. So next time you raise a glass, toast to the women redefining a more inclusive tomorrow: Here’s to the future of craft beer that’s brewing with possibility, one pour at a time.

Spider City Brewing
Brewery Taproom: 1177 SE Ninth St., Bend
Downtown Tasting Room: 55 NW Minnesota Ave., Bend
spidercitybrewing.com

This article appears in The Source Weekly February 27, 2025.