Imbibe 75 People to Watch: Carmen Favela and Esthela Davila Ojeda

When Carmen Favela, co-owner of San Diego’s Border X Brewing with her husband, David, had the idea to start a club for women interested in craft beer, she tapped Esthela Davila Ojeda, beer aficionado and co-host of The Indie Beer Show podcast. The two launched the Mujeres Brew Club in May of 2019 expecting 10 or 12 people; they ended up with five times as many at every meeting, eager to taste, talk about, and brew beer with a supportive community. “The goal is to teach, empower, and make women confident about craft beer,” says Davila Ojeda (though the group is welcoming to all).

They soon outgrew the Border X space where they’d been meeting, and mused about taking over a recently closed brewery a few blocks away. Within 24 hours a business plan was in the works, and this past November, despite COVID-related delays, the Mujeres Brew House officially opened as both educational space and functioning brewery and taproom where members can get hands-on experience and serve their beers on tap.

“This past year has been very strange, but I’ve seen many positive changes,” says Favela. “The beer industry is being more inclusive of women and realizing we can step into any role. The change I would still like to see would be more minorities included—that’s one of the reasons we started the club.”

Click here to read about some of this year’s other Imbibe 75 People to Watch.