Each March, Yakima Chief Hops works with more than 100 chapters of worldwide non-profit, Pink Boots Society (PBS), to develop a signature blend of hops for the women’s advocacy organization. That “Pink Boots Blend” is then put up for sale, with $3 from every pound purchased donated to PBS’ scholarship fund for women in the brewing, winemaking and distilling industries. Compounding that effort on a more local level are breweries that use the Pink Boots Blend to brew beers which raise awareness and funds for their regional PBS chapters.
This is the sixth year for the Pink Boots Blend. Following multiple rounds of sensory evaluation and feedback, it was determined this edition would consist of Loral, Ekuanot and an experimental hop going by the developmental title of HBC 586. The 2022 Pink Boots Blend went on sale late last year and, as happens every year, most of the brewers who purchased it are putting it to use now in honor of Women’s History Month, with most of it having been expended during International Women’s Day (IWD) on March 8.
One of this year’s many IWD brew days took place at Carlsbad’s Burgeon Beer Co., where more than 30 individuals from throughout San Diego County assembled to craft an IPA that will go by the name “Fit For Queens”. Hopped with the Pink Boots Blend, the beer will be available on March 31. Though well known for engaging in numerous collaboration brews and supporting camaraderie within the industry, primarily through its support of the San Diego Brewers Guild, this was the six-year-old company’s first-ever Pink Boots brew day.
“We have a lot people who are passionate about recognizing women and having equal representation in craft beer, not just women but for all genders. As a team, we’ve consistently talked a lot about that,” said Burgeon Marketing Director Mackenzie Kline. “In previous years, we’ve been growing so much and our focus has been on new locations, so we haven’t been able to get cans, get a recipe done, and get beer in tanks in time to release a Women’s History Month beer. But we were determined that this would be the year and went about getting all our team members who are passionate about this together to come up with the recipe, name and design.”
To Kline and her female colleagues’ delight, many of their male coworkers, including all of Burgeon’s owners, enthusiastically joined in. When doing so, they were respectful, lending their vocational skills and disciplinary insights while the women steered the project, determining what beer style would be brewed (West Coast IPA) and which direction to go as far as other hop varietals (Mosaic) to add to complement those in the Pink Boots Blend. With those details finalized, everyone came together along with women from other breweries, industry aspirants and members of groups like PBS and the local chapter of Girls Pint Out, to mill grain, throw hops, grain out and pitch yeast.
“Brew days like this brings women in the industry together, even those who may work for the same company but in different departments or at separate locations,” said PBS San Diego Chapter Co-leader Lia Garcia. “It also brings in supporters like Kelly Lohrmeyer from Yakima Chief Hops and allows people to meet others within the industry, providing opportunities for collaboration, networking, camaraderie and support.”
PBS San Diego’s membership currently stands at around 120 and ranks third of any other chapter in the world, a statistic made even more impressive by the fact most other chapters—including those in the top two spots—represent entire states or countries versus a singular city.
Though new to PBS, Trista Hatlestad already sees it as an important group and resource for women to support one another. A homebrewer of ten years who decided to pivot from her multi-decade career as a hairdresser to pursue her passion on a professional level, she got her first glimpse of commercial brewing at Burgeon’s PBS brew day.
“I was nervous about today, but I was welcomed so quickly that all my reservations went away,” said Hatlestad. “It’s been very welcoming, warm and inclusive.”
While she’s not sure precisely what she wants to do within the brewing industry, she is preparing for whatever the future holds. Over the past two years, she has earned her Cicerone Beer Server certification (and is studying to become a full-fledged Cicerone, the beer-world equivalent of a sommelier) and has attended San Diego State University Business of Craft Beer and Micro Matic draft-system certificate courses. She is also a candidate to join the next cohort of MiraCosta College’s BrewTech program.
When she finds a brewery and role within it that suits her, she knows she will be able to lean on her newfound PBS contemporaries for assistance and encouragement. They are in this together.
“It’s not about competition,” said Hatlestad. “We can all find our place within the industry.”
The following is a list of PBS beers that have been brewed this month.
- Ballast Point Brewing (Little Italy): TBA
- Booze Brothers Brewing (Vista, Oceanside, Fallbrook): TBA
- Burgeon Beer Co. (Carlsbad, Escondido, Little Italy): Fit For Queens West Coast IPA, 6.8%
- Dogleg Brewing (Vista): Fore Wright Pale Ale, 5.7%
- Eppig Brewing (Vista, Point Loma, La Jolla): Hear Me Roar IPA, 7.4%
- Home Brew Mart by Ballast Point Brewing (Morena): Female Powered Pale Ale
- Mujeres Brew House (Barrio Logan): TBA
- Pizza Port Brewing – Bressi Ranch (Carlsbad): Double IPA
- Second Chance Beer Co. (Carmel Mountain Ranch, North Park): Fistful of Gummies – Berry Edition, 5%
- Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station (Point Loma): Simply Le Zest Berliner-style Weisse w/ Lemon, Elderflower, Juniper & Salt
- Thr3e Punk Ales Brewing (Chula Vista): Third Avenue IPA w/ Pink Boots Blend, 7.1%
- White Labs Brewing (Miramar): Pink Boots Saison, 5%
It’s important to note that use of the Pink Boots Blend is not mandatory. Some breweries brew beers in celebration of women in the industry, women’s causes and charities independent of PBS. The following beers were brewed this month, as well.
- AleSmith Brewing (Miramar): Fearless West Coast IPA, 6.8%
- Athletic Brewing (Miramar): Trailblazer Non-alcoholic Helles Lager, < 0.5% (collaboration w/ Ladies Who Launch)
- Deft Brewing (Morena): Bruja Bru Oud Bruin, 6.1%
- Harland Brewing (Scripps Ranch, Bay Park, South Park, Carmel Valley): Big Chick Energy Oatmeal Stout w/ Dulce de Leche-treated Coconut, 5.5%
- Hopnonymous Brewing (Kearny Mesa): Man! I Feel Like a Sour! (collaboration w/ Girls Pint Out)
- Kilowatt Brewing (Kearny Mesa, Oceanside, Ocean Beach): TBA
- Rouleur Brewing (Carlsbad, North Park): Pale Ale (collaboration w/ Cohn Restaurant Group)