Pink Boots Society: Empowering Women in the Brewing Industry
In 2007, the international non-profit organization Pink Boots Society was founded in the United States by craft beer pioneer Teri Fahrendorf. Fahrendorf, who had traveled extensively across the country, noticed that many women in the brewing industry were unaware of the number of female colleagues they had. She wanted to support them in their professional growth and education through mutual recognition and inspiration. In the last two years, the Czech Republic has also become part of Pink Boots. This year, 13 special beers were brewed under the Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day worldwide initiative.
Taking the initiative in the Czech Republic is Karolína Chroustovská, co-owner and head brewer of Chroust Brewery. Alongside Lenka Straková, head brewer of Proud Brewery, and Barbora Pudivítrová, head lab technician at Zichovec Brewery, they successfully brought Pink Boots to the Czech Republic. They aim to connect women in the industry, not just as a brand with pink boots on beers, but as an organization that fosters unity among women in the field.
The activities of the society are primarily evident across the brewing community, but through the Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day, they reach a wider audience. The event involves breweries worldwide that choose to support the Pink Boots idea by brewing any style of beer using the Pink Boots Hop Blend, a hop blend mixture provided by the initiative’s partner, Yakima Chief Hops.
The Pink Boots Hop Blend, with its aromatic citrus, tropical fruit, and woody notes, along with a bitterness content of 12.5%, features well-known hop varieties like Loral and Ekuanot, complemented by a new hybrid. Lenka Straková decided to brew an American Pale Ale using this blend at Proud Brewery. This year, breweries such as Chroust, Zlatá kráva, Trilobit, Antoš, Červený vlk, Madcat, Transformátor, Kos, Zichovec, Nová Sladovna, and several homebrewers joined in brewing under the Pink Boots symbol.
Each brewery took a slightly different approach, resulting in a variety of beer styles, including APA, IPA, NEIPA, and the lesser-known IPL. This year, the beers will not only be available in brewery e-shops, taprooms, and selected pubs but will also be featured on Czech Railways trains, which have chosen to support the Pink Boots initiative.
Projects like the Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day are enjoyable as they bring together people who simply love beer. They are also beneficial as they draw attention to women in brewing. Despite the common misconception, the brewing industry is no longer a male-dominated field. More and more women are professionally involved in brewing, with Plzeň alone boasting at least three female brewers. Pink Boots Society is not just about brewing beer; it’s about breaking stereotypes and empowering women in the brewing industry.