A group of Niagara College Brewmaster students got a head start on International Women’s Day in an effort to stamp out gender stereotypes and kick down barriers when it comes to women in brewing.
On Friday, March 5, women from different classes of the College’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program joined together at the NC Teaching Brewery with their ‘Pink Boots’ on – figuratively or, in some cases, literally. Their mission: to celebrate International Women’s Day by collaborating to create a special beer in support of women in the beer industry. In doing so, they became part of a global effort, launched by the Pink Boots Society, to raise the profile of women in brewing around the world.
“It is very important to me to raise awareness, break down barriers and help level the playing field for women in the brewing industry,” said second-year Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management student Nicola Davey, who took the lead in organizing this year’s Pink Boots initiative at the NC Teaching Brewery. “There are opportunities for us in craft brewing, and the support we get from each other will increase that involvement and inspire us to grow more.”
NC’s Canadian Food and Wine Institute dean Craig Youdale pointed out that the College’s recent creation of a Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce sends a clear message that this issue is important to NC, and that more needs to be done to support the community and students.
“The Pink Boots Collaborative Brew initiative is a very important message to our female students and community that we need to do all we can to celebrate women in the brewing workforce,” said Youdale. “Seeing our students so excited to showcase their talent and collaborate with other women in the industry is a positive image that can only help continue the fight for equality and diversity.”
A group of students from NC’s Brewmaster and Brewery Operations Management program mark Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day at the College Teaching Brewery on March 5, 2021. Pictured from left: Helen Hermansen, Nicola Davey, Laura Park, Michalla Bent, Cyanne Jeanes, Rachel Donnelly and Mackenzie Vivani.
Pink Boots Brew
The collaboration beer they created, Pink Boots Brew, is an American Pale Ale with tropical, herbal, citrus and woody aromatic notes. It was designed to complement the exclusive Pink Boots hops blend chosen for this year’s Pink Boots Society Collaboration Brew Day initiative – used by participants around the world. Pink Boots partner Yakima Chief Hops donates $3 from every pound sold to the Pink Boots Society for education and programming.
Two second-term Brewmaster students, Michalla Bent and Laura Park, crafted the recipe for Pink Boots Brew, embracing the opportunity to produce their first commercial beer while contributing to a meaningful initiative.
“Not only is this a great opportunity to establish our first recipe, with the help of the other girls, but to prepare us for the future ahead of us,” said Bent. “I think it’s important to raise awareness of women in brewing. Often times, women can be looked down upon for pursuing a trade that is so-called a ‘man’s job,’ and it’s nice that we have the support and encouragement from other women in the brewery industry to beat the odds and speak our minds freely.”
Park valued the opportunity to collaborate and make a beer with all women in the Brewmaster program and was excited to see their first commercial brew put out for others to try. The beer will be available for purchase in April at the Wine Visitor + Education Centre.
“It is also very meaningful as this event also shows women in the brewing industry that there is support for them and they are encouraged to pursue this path despite being underrepresented,” said Park. “It acts as that extra boost of encouragement that I need to know I made a great decision to take this program and pursue my interests in making beer, and there is support backing me up whenever I need it.”
Pandemic safety measures in place
With restricted campus access and on-campus safety measures in place during the pandemic, this year’s Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day at the Teaching Brewery was limited to 11 participants – the number of women enrolled in the program. The brew day complied with all COVID-related safety measures, including physical distancing and enhanced personal protective equipment (PPE).
Co-organizer Mackenzie Vivani noted that while she regrets that brew day was held on a smaller scale than the College’s inaugural event on International Women’s Day last year, when local brewers were also invited, she was excited to be part of it once again for 2021. It was the first time the Brewmaster students were able to gather with their peers from other classes since the 2020 Pink Boots event, held less than a week prior to the College shutdown last March.
“To have all the women in the program come together is still very exciting. We are few and far between in the program and in this industry,” said Vivani. “All we want to do is encourage more women to come into this industry and establish a way for the women in the program to build connections with women who are already working in the industry.”
Pink Boots are on display at the NC Teaching Brewery as students work on a collaboration beer in support of women in the beer industry.
