Beer Baron Fires Beer Buyer Accused Of Misogynistic Behavior

BAY AREA, CA — Beer Baron, a bar and restaurant chain with a Santa Rosa location, announced this week that it severed ties with its beer buyer after women accused him of sexist behavior, SFGate reported.

Former Beer Baron beer director Corey Bryce Whelchel's name came up after Massachusetts brewer Brienne Allen asked last week on her @ratmagnet Instagram profile that women in the beer industry share sexist comments they experienced, SFGate reported.

Women from across the country inundated Allen with replies accusing men in the beer industry of inappropriate remarks, touching and behavior, including sexual assault.

It's unclear what behavior led to Beer Baron's decision to sever ties with Whelchel.

Whelchel posted an apology on his Instagram page and said he "respect[s] and admire[s] the women in craft beer."

"My actions have run contrary to the way I believe women should be treated," he said. "Women deserve to feel safe in their workplace and treated with respect."

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Patch reached out to Whelchel and Beer Baron owner Harpreet Singh for comment.

Singh issued his own statement on behalf of the company. "We are disheartened and disgusted by this. ... Although we aren't responsible for his actions, we know that we are held accountable by association," he said. "We have severed all ties with this person indefinitely."

Singh described Whelchel as a third-party beer buyer, though SFGate reported that he was introduced on the Full Pint podcast as a full-time Beer Baron buyer who was salaried.

Beer Baron has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment or abuse of staff, customers or business partners but intends to review those policies to see if they can be bolstered, Singh said.

"We thank the brave people who have come forward and spoken out, and we thank @ratmagnet for being a platform for a lot of these stories," he said. "We stand in solidarity with those affected directly or indirectly; although our decision is final interminating this individual, our doors are still open to hearing from you."

Read more from SFGate.

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