Empowered to Brew: 2020 Pink Boots Blend
Since 2018, the YCH Pink Boots Blend has helped to ignite a movement among the brewing community, shining a spotlight on women in beer and empowering them to be a force in the industry. Each year, Yakima Chief Hops and Pink Boots Society collaborate on an annual hop blend recipe in celebration and support of women in the brewing profession. Available to both commercial and home brewers, YCH donates $3 per pound sold to the Pink Boots Society scholarship fund.
The Pink Boots Blend is purchased and used throughout the year to host special brew days and create beers that inspire feelings of girl power and sisterhood across the global brewing industry. The blend has also inspired the tradition of brewing with the Pink Boots Blend on or around International Women’s Day on March 8, bringing women from all aspects of the industry together to brew a celebratory beer.
As the Communications and Public Relations Manager at YCH, I had the privilege of joining the Pink Boots Blend International Women’s Brew Day on March 6th at Widmer Brothers in Portland, OR. Privilege is an understatement—being a part of a Pink Boots Society brew day is nothing short of magical, especially when it is alongside Laura Ulrich, PBS president and Small Batch Brewer at Stone Brewing.
Also in attendance were some of the Craft Brew Alliance crew representing various aspects across the spectrum of the brewing industry. Participants included Nicole Mandala – Senior Procurement Manager, Kaylen Gibbens – Lead Brewer, Moira Sherry – QA Technician, Megan Wade – QA Technician, Andrea Mitchell – Graphic Designer, Dan Munch – Innovation Brewer and Parker Penley – Innovation Brewer. The brew day perfectly displayed the true essence of the blend, with a little bit of spontaneity, some very unique flavors and a diverse group of talented women.
Cleverly titled “Resting Wit Face,” the women crafted a hoppy wit using ingredients that one of the participants personally brought home from India, including purple yam powder, smoked cardamom, coriander and bitter orange peel. Everyone had a hand in the brew day regardless of their background, spontaneously collaborating on the recipe in the moment and helping to add each of the ingredients.
I’ve been a part of many collaborative brew days but this was definitely more than that. While I’m sure the beer will be delicious, the entire day was less about the beer and more about celebrating their shared passion for brewing. Many of the women were operating on no sleep, having come off a 12-hour shift in the brewery, but voluntarily showed up anyways. If that isn’t passion, I don’t know what is. As with many Pink Boots Society events, I left in awe of the women that I met and even prouder to be connected to the brewing community.
As many of you know, shortly following the International Women’s Brew Days, most breweries were forced to shut their doors to the public due to COVID-19. As many Pink Boots Blend beers are one-off, small batch brews, this significantly limited brewers’ abilities to share their Pink Boots beers with the public. We’ve rounded up a handful of breweries that are working hard to share these beers with others through creative ways, such as delivery and curbside pick-up.
Now more than ever, it is important to remember the power of community and all of the things that keep us connected. We encourage all PBS supporters to share this list and feel free to email us at [email protected] if you know of any breweries with Pink Boots Blend beers currently available that you would like to add. We will continue to seek new ways to support our brewing customers through these challenging times.
CANADA
BRITISH COLUMBIA
Slackwater Brewing
Penticton, British Columbia
New Boots, Who Dis? Session IPA
Pick-up and delivery
@slackwaterbrewing
ONTARIO
Prince Eddy’s Brewing Co.
Picton, Ontario
Haze Brigade NEIPA
Pick-up and delivery
@princeeddysbrewing
FRANCE
Brasserie Caporal w/ PBS France
Toulouse, France
Shipping available
Brasserie de Centre / Sulauze Farm Brewery
Miramas, France
Pick-up and delivery available
UNITED STATES
CALIFORNIA
Game Craft Brewing
Laguna Hills, CA
Unplanned Variable Hazy IPA
Pick-up and delivery
@gamecraftbrewing
Indie Brew Co.
Los Angeles, CA
LA Woman IPA
Pick-up and delivery
@indiebrewco
New Glory Brewery
Sacramento, CA
Run The World DIPA
Pick-up and delivery
@newglorybrewery
Duck Foot Brewing
San Diego, CA
Loosen Your Boots IPA
Pick-up and delivery – release date TBA
@duckfootbeer
Laughing Monk Brewing
San Francisco, CA
Votes for Women Cream Ale
Pick-up and delivery
@laughingmonksf
Clandestine Brewing
San Jose, CA
“Are you sure you want an IPA, hun?”
Crowler pick-up
@clandestinebrewing
COLORADO
Jagged Mountain + Goldspot Brewing
Denver, CO
Pink Boots IPH (India Pale Hefe)
To-go crowler
@jaggedmountain / @goldspotbrewing
CONNECTICUT
Great Falls Brewing Co.
Canaan, CT
Shake It Shake It Sugaree IPA
To-go crowlers
@greatfallsbrews
FLORIDA
3rd Planet Brewing
Niceville, FL
India Pale Lager (?)
Pick-up – release date TBA
@3rdplanetbrewing
GEORGIA
Wild Leap Brew Co.
LaGrange, GA
Too Pure To Be Pink DIPA
Curbside pick-up
@wildleap
NEW YORK
Prison City Pub & Brewery
New York, NY
Shine Theory NEIPA
Curbside pick-up
@prisoncitybeer
OREGON
Leikam Brewery
Portland, OR
These Boots are Made for Hoppin’ IPA
Local delivery
@leikambrewery
PENNSYLVANIA
Zeroday Brewing Co.
Harrisburg, PA
Nevertheless, We Persisted Hazy IPA
Pick-up
@zerodaybrewing
SOUTH CAROLINA
Oak Road Brewery
Summerville, SC
Virgo IPA
6-packs to-go
@oakroadbrewery
SOUTH DAKOTA
Fernson Brewing Co.
Sioux Falls, SD
Orange Oat Cream IPA
Pick-up
@fernson
WASHINGTON
Reubens Brews + Ballard Brewed Coalition
Seattle, WA
Smile More IPA
Pick-up
@reubensbrews
Flying Bike Coop Brewery
Seattle, WA
All My Heroes Hazy IPA
Pick-up
@flyingbikebrewery
