The good work of the Pink Boots Society (PBS) is well known. Not only does the national non-profit organization advocate for females in the beer and fermented-beverage industries, offering numerous educational opportunities through scholarships and chapter-level events centered on the sharing of information and techniques, it also provides camaraderie, support and strength in its numbers, which grow year after year along with the percentage of women working within the beer world.
A number of fundraising initiatives fuel PBS’ efforts, the largest of which involves Yakima Chief Hops’ (YCH) “Pink Boots Blend”. Since 2018, sales of this annually changing mélange of hop varietals have helped enhance the organization’s scholarship program. In 2020, YCH donated $117,807 from sales of the blend, bringing total contributions over the past three years to nearly $258,000. This year’s blend is currently available but proving a tougher sell in the age of COVID-19.
Most of last year and 2021 to-date have been all about survival for local brewing companies. With governmental restrictions proving both challenging and everchanging, brewery owners have spent many months submerged well below the break-even line, dealing with issues such as layoffs, furloughs, leases, debt, getting beer out of kegs and into cans, switching tasting room service outdoors (when they are allowed to serve the public at all) and more. It leaves little attention span—or budget—for supporting causes, no matter how worthy or how much those brewery owners would like to.
“The low turnout of registrants this year has been massively challenging. I am grateful for the signups we do have, but I can’t help but feel like we are stuck between a rock and a hard place,” says PBS San Diego Chapter Chapter Co-leader Amy Spackman. “Our brewing community is struggling with the COVID restrictions still affecting everyone. It’s hard to approach them with excitement when normal operational funds are strained. I know there’s plenty of support in peoples’ hearts but monetarily it’s just not there this year.”
According to YCH, participation in this fundraising effort, while lower than years past, is still rather good on a national level and there is more of an international presence than ever before. So it would appear that the stricter, more revenue-prohibitive regulations imposed by the California government are at least partially to blame for lower sales of the blend in San Diego County. Currently, seven San Diego brewing companies are registered for Pink Boots Brew Day: Karl Strauss Brewing, Mujeres Brew House, Saint Archer Brewing, Second Chance Beer Co. Stone Brewing, Thr3e Punk Ales Brewing and Three Frogs Beer Co. All of them will use the blend to brew beers which will raise awareness for the non-profit as part of PBS’ annual Pink Boots Brew Day on March 8, which is also International Women’s Day. Stone’s taking things to the next level, brewing a trio of beers on the 10-barrel system at its Liberty Station brewpub.
“Due to COVID, this year’s brew day will look very different than in years past where we’ve had up to 20 women in attendance. Because of the change, we decided to make three beers, one of which will be ready to drink on March 8,” says Laura Ulrich, Stone’s longtime Small Batch Brewer. Ulrich served as president of PBS national chapter from 2016 and 2020. “It’s a hazy IPA that I’ve named BOOST, since it’s something I feel Pink Boots Society does by elevating the presence of women in the industry.”
BOOST was brewed the week before last. The Pink Boots Blend of hops was added in the mash, in the kettle and in the tank during knockout. The remaining two beers will be brewed on Pink Boots Brew Day by Stone brewers Sarah Kaneshiki and Sam Cavender, who will be responsible for an imperial kölsch called ENCOURAGE and an imperial porter called INSPIRE, respectively.
This year’s Pink Boots Blend is comprised of Cashmere, Ahtanum, Citra, Loral and Sabro hops. As in years past, varietals were selected by PBS members. According to YCH, the blend features tropical, herbal, citrusy and woody aromatics. While it will create a varied sensory profile for professionally brewed beers, recreational brewers may also purchase the blend and, in doing so, assist PBS’ efforts.
“Messages have gone out to [homebrew club] QUAFF and the Tijuana Homebrew Club as well since we are so fortunate to be able to include homebrewers in the support of the blend sales. My hope is the homebrew community really jumps on board and makes this happen,” says Spackman. “And I do have hope that when revenue stabilizes and R&D brews become a thing again, that we will have plenty of support from businesses. It’s just tough right now.”
Brewing companies interested in ordering the Pink Boots Blend may do so by clicking here and officially register to participate in Pink Boots Brew Day here. Participating breweries are not obligated to brew their beers on March 8, and other business such as cideries, which can dry-hop ciders with the blend, are welcomed to participate, as well.
For more information on PBS or to become a member of the San Diego chapter, visit pinkbootssociety.org