Breweries in and near Vancouver are celebrating International Women's Day with a variety of beers brewed by women.
Every year breweries around the world collaborate with the Pink Boots Society, which advocates for women in the beer brewing industry; official collaboration beers help fund the organization.
This year at least five breweries in Vancouver participated, joined by others across the metro area. In Vancouver that includes independent operation 33 Acres Brewing making The Good Fight, a dry-hopped Kolsch which also is helping the Shoe Project, a Canadian organization helping newcomer women in Canada learn communication skills. Luppolo Brewing went a slightly different direction with a beer cocktail in a can - a French 75.
Lundy Dale, a representative of Pink Boots Canada, says independent outfits Callister, Faculty, and Settlement will have beers out as well. Meanwhile Stanley Park Brewing (technically owned by InBev) has released Big Jan Wears Pink Boots, named after assistant brewer Rachel Young's mom.
“Traditional and economically, it's been a very male-dominated industry and women have always been a little overshadowed in that," says Young in a press release. "Getting more women means more variety because they have a different point of view and they'll bring different things to the table every single time."
In North Vancouver, Bridge Brewing and Black Kettle (a hazy IPA) both have beers out or coming. Coquitlam's Patina Brewing, which has a majority-female staff, made a small batch of a smoothie sour style ale, and Parkside in Port Moody is canning a cherry-lime elderberry ale. Meanwhile, the award winning Kwantlen Polytechnic University brewing program came up with a hibiscus rose brut ale named after retired dean Dr. Betty Worobec (it's available at the university).
In each case these beers are being brewed by women. While brewing is viewed as a male industry nowadays and a majority of brewers are male, that wasn't always the situation. Up until the commercialization of beer it was mostly women doing the brewing.
"This year, more than 50 Canadian breweries are participating and no matter the experience, virtual or otherwise, the Pink Boots spirit of Inspire, Encourage, Assist continues," says Pink Boots Canada in a press release. "Donations and/or funds raised will be used to provide exclusive scholarships for our members and most importantly, invested in critical programming and education to increase awareness and understanding of the challenges in the fermented beverages industry."
