In Baltimore’s historic Pigtown neighborhood, a revolution in beer is bubbling up–one pint at a time. In a historically male-dominated field, women-owned breweries are reshaping the beer world and creating community while doing it.
Two major Pigtown women-owned breweries that are continuing to grow are Checkerspot Brewing Co. and Pickett Brewing Co.
Judy Neff, owner and brewer of Checkerspot, has been a trailblazer in the industry, pushing the limits of craftsmanship. Neff opened Checkerspot in 2018 and has been growing her business since.
Checkerspot’s newest location is 1421 Ridgely St., after moving to a larger space in 2023. The Ridgely site features a large event space, brewhouse and various games.
Neff’s inspiration behind brewing began after taking a brewery tour in California.
“I thought it was just the coolest thing I’d ever seen. I came home and literally got a home brewery kit, and started brewing on my stovetop. And it sort of went from there, and sort of evolved,” Neff said.
At Checkerspot, all the brews are made in-house, with a menu that features staple beers always on tap. Fan favorites rotate frequently, and they experiment with seasonal or one-off brews created for special occasions or collaborations. They launched with a beer called Juniperus IPA, which continues to be one of their best sellers.
“I worked on that for about three years when I was home brewing to get it exactly where I wanted it. Juniper berries are really hard to work with and so it was finding the right balance of all aspects of beer to make it work,” Neff said.
Longtime customers like Christina Cottini enjoy both the high quality beer and the sense of community the brewery fosters.
“We’ve loved their beers for a very long time,” said Cottini. “Small businesses keep the city going. It’s just a great place for community to interact,” she finished.
Beyond beer, Neff is also an advocate for bringing more women into the craft beer world. She founded Baltimore Beer Babes, a beer appreciation group dedicated to creating a supportive space where women can explore, and enjoy craft beer together.
But Neff’s influence goes beyond the walls of Checkerspot. She’s also acted as a mentor, paving the way for other women-owned breweries in the area. Less than half a mile away at 1130 South Paca St. is Pickett Brewing Co., a women and veteran owned brewery.
Co-owners of Pickett, Kate Conway and U.S. Coast Guard Veteran, Jason Howard, opened their storefront in 2022, but their brewing story began before then. In 2017, Howard began brewing in his garage.
When the garage door was open, many people would stop by, chat, or enjoy a beer. When it came time for Conway and Howard to find a location to open their business, they were delighted to find a space that accommodated a sliding garage-style door to emulate the origins of Pickett. Conway said the front door fully opens up, creating a welcoming and inviting environment.
As a woman, Conway acknowledges the struggles of opening a business. She expressed the importance of staying motivated and using the resources and people that are around you.
“Opening any small business is difficult. Opening as a woman or a woman in a male dominated industry is even more difficult,” Conway said.
However, Conway said she was not alone in the process. During the early days of opening, Conway seeked advice from Neff, knowing that she had already successfully opened Checkerspot years prior.
“I was nervous to talk to her but she was super welcoming. She offered me any advice she could possibly give me and that’s huge. You need a support system around you,” Conway said.
As for beers, Pickett offers a range of light lagers all the way to darker beers and heavy stouts. Conway also said that with every special event they host, a beer release goes with it.
They’re known for their hazy IPA’s, which are available every day, with their most popular called, “Take a Zero.”
On game days for the Baltimore Orioles and Ravens, their best selling beer, named “Just Beer,” is always a top pick. Conway compares the taste of this beer to something similar to Budweiser or Miller Lite.
Pickett is particularly known for its bluegrass music series. Every Sunday, Pickett transforms into a bluegrass music hub, where customers can enjoy live music. Their beer, “BlueGrass Sunday,” works in tandem with this series.
“The series has kind of taken on a life of its own.” Conway said. “People like that beer to make a cohesive feel to that day,” she said.
In addition to music and beer, Conway said Pickett offers a comfortable place for the communities of all ages to gather.
“People say it feels like home. It feels like the living room–the couches, the chairs. And they wanna hang out here,” Conway said.
First-time customers like David Valdevia said his Pickett experience was enjoyable.
“It’s been nice, the beer is good and it seems like a nice place to be…I think wherever you are, it’s just good to support the places that are around you,” Valdevia said.
Loyal customers, like Sheila Philip, appreciate the fact that Pickett is both a woman- and veteran-owned local brewery. She highlights Conway’s and Howard’s hard work in making Pickett an inclusive and supportive place.
“It’s important to support women in believing that whatever they want to do–they can do it,” said Philip. “With perseverance, with working hard, they can make their dreams come true…other women celebrating the successes of other women–like, there’s nothing better than that.”
Conway has found Pigtown small businesses to be supportive. She said most small business owners within the neighborhood lean on one another for advice.
“We all try to get out and support each other’s businesses, and hear each other’s concerns, and help each other navigate this challenge of being a small business owner,” Conway said.
Conway hopes Pickett Brewing will grow. She and her colleagues are excited to continue supporting, appreciating, and cherishing all of the women in the craft beer industry.
“Both Judy and I do everything we can to encourage women in all aspects of the brewing industry, whether it’s beertenders or sales or marketing,” she said. “We’re constantly having events where women can get together and collaborate. We do everything we can to build women up in the industry.”
