Poster designed by Jessica Byrne of Lineage Brewing.
Performing a quality control check isn't usually considered a work perk, unless you work in a brewery. Today's Q.C. check will be the final one for the New E.R.A. Pale Ale before it is released to taps. At first glance, it is a brilliant pale golden color. The first sip begins with a mild malt breadiness followed by a bright citrusy hop character and a moderate hop bitterness. This crisp and clean pale ale is more than just a great beer, it is the culmination of 15 women from the Central Ohio brewing industry.
Women from various industry positions joined together at the Phoenix Brewing Company in March to brew the New E.R.A. Pale Ale for International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day. The day originally started to embrace the spirit of International Women’s Day and celebrate the women and their roles in the brewing industry. The pale ale recipe was designed by the women to showcase the hops from the Pink Boots Hop Blend. This special hop blend created by Pink Boots Society members and YCH HOPS incorporates Palisade®, Simcoe®, Mosaic®, Citra® and Loral® hops and is fruity with citrus and herbal notes.
Nichole Endicott from Commonhouse Ales adding grain to the mash, and Michelle Warren from Multiple Brewing mashing in.
The New E.R.A. Pale Ale, with a 6% ABV and 45 IBUs, begins its release across Central Ohio on April 4th in the Phoenix Taproom in Mansfield, Ohio. It will be released at Lineage Brewing in Columbus on April 5th, Weaselboy Brewing in Zanesville on April 7th, and North High Brewing in Columbus on April 13th. A portion from every pint sold will be donated to the Pink Boot Society scholarship funds. The Pink Boot Society is a non-profit organization that promotes the advancement of women in the brewing industry through educational support. Each location will also accept donations of items like toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, etc for local domestic violence shelters.
Lori Wince, co-owner and assistant brewer from Weasel Boy Brewing, and head brewer for the Women's Brew Day, says "It’s gratifying to see more women involved in the craft beer industry and learning about their journey from another profession. When I first joined the Pink Boots Society in 2008, there were fewer women in the industry and not many of them were in Ohio. As Ohio’s craft beer offerings grew, so did the number of women I would run into at breweries and Ohio now has women serving in very important positions in the state’s brewing industry. It’s a wonderful time to be a brewer in Ohio.”
Mary McDonald, head of the Ohio Craft Brewes Association, stirring the New E.R.A. mash.
Lori isn’t the only woman with brewing experience, many of the women participating have brewing and cellaring experience. They also work in marketing, distribution, creative, sales, advocacy, journalism and taprooms. Participating breweries include Weasel Boy Brewing, Lineage Brewing, Commonhouse Ales, North High, Multiple Brewing, and The Phoenix Brewing Company, along with representatives from the Ohio Craft Brewers Association, Drink Up Columbus, and Brewnettes and Brews IG.
For the history of International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day, please go to: https://unitebrew.org/
For more information about The Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day please go to https://www.pinkbootssociety.org/pink-boots-brew/
More information on the Pink Boots Blend and YCH HOPS can be found here: https://ychhops.com/connect/news/blog/pink-boots-blend-released