Pink Boots Society
| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fermented beverage industry |
| Founded | 2007 |
| Founder | Teri Fahrendorf |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Blanca Quintero (President, 2023) |
| Products | Educational programs, mentorship, networking, scholarships, beer judge training |
Number of employees | Volunteer-based (exact number not specified) |
| Website | pinkbootssociety |
The Pink Boots Society (PBS) is a global non-profit organization dedicated to supporting women and non-binary professionals working within the fermented beverage industry. While initially concentrating on women involved in beer production, PBS now embraces members engaged in craft beer, wine, spirits, cider, sake, kombucha, and various other fermented drinks. The society promotes career advancement by offering educational opportunities, mentorship programs, networking platforms, and advocating for gender equity in an industry traditionally dominated by men. Additionally, PBS provides training for beer judges and raises scholarship funds to assist members in overcoming professional obstacles. Its membership comprises approximately 2,500 individuals worldwide.
Organization history
The Pink Boots Society was established in 2007 by Teri Fahrendorf during a cross-country journey she chronicled on her blog "The Road Brewer." This trip introduced her to many female brewers she had not previously encountered. Armed with pink rubber boots gifted by her mother-in-law, Fahrendorf visited 70 breweries and brewed at 38 locations, connecting with peers including Laura Ulrich, Carol Stoudt, and Whitney Thompson. These experiences inspired her to create an online Pink Boots Society list in August 2007.
The inaugural official PBS gathering occurred at the 2008 Craft Brewers Conference, where 16 women brewers and six female beer writers convened. Attendees voted to form an organization representing "Women. Beer. Professionals." This mission later broadened to encompass non-binary individuals and professionals across all fermented beverage categories. Soon after, PBS incorporated as a nonprofit with a focus on education and providing scholarships.
PBS’s mission has evolved from solely encouraging women beer professionals to its current purpose: "to assist, inspire and encourage women and non-binary individuals in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry to advance their careers through education." The society emphasizes mentoring, networking, and raising gender awareness at major industry events such as the Great American Beer Festival and Craft Brewers' Conference. It also hosts hallmark events like Collaboration Brew Day (previously Big Boots Brew), Bring Mom Out for a Beer, and the North Carolina Biere de Femme Festival. In 2013, PBS collaborated with Sophie de Ronde to initiate the International Women's Collaboration Brew Day (IWCBD), which supports fundraising efforts and increases recognition of women’s contributions to brewing.
In 2018, Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) launched a special hop blend dedicated to supporting PBS’s scholarship fund. Together with distributor Country Malt Group, YCH contributed $117,807 in 2020 alone; since its inception, the program has generated over $257,000. The primary annual fundraising campaign occurs during Women’s History Month each March, with numerous breweries releasing collaborative beers on International Women’s Day.
Barley's Angels and consumer education
After deciding in 2008 to incorporate education as part of its mission, Pink Boots Society sought to expand into consumer education alongside its professional development efforts. To encourage women consumers to deepen their beer knowledge through local chapter meetings—and potentially generate revenue for PBS—Fahrendorf and Lisa Morrison founded Barley's Angels as a PBS sub-organization. Although Barley’s Angels saw rapid chapter expansion, it fell short of fundraising goals and diverted attention from PBS’s core membership. Once PBS achieved 501(c)(3) nonprofit status, its Board separated Barley’s Angels into an independent organization. Christine Jump took over as President in 2012 and continues to lead the group. Barley’s Angels was inspired by Left Hand Brewing Company’s consumer group "Ales-4-FemAles." Around that period, other women-focused beer consumer groups such as Girls Pint Out also began forming nationwide using similar chapter structures.
Staff and volunteers
From 2013 until 2018, Emily Engdahl held the position of Executive Director. The role of President was occupied by Fahrendorf between 2007 and 2016, succeeded by Laura Ulrich from 2016 to 2020, then Jen Jordan in 2021, followed by Ellen Sherrill in 2022. Blanca Quintero took over the presidency in 2023.
Archival records
The historical documents of the Pink Boots Society are preserved within the Oregon Hops and Brewing Archives (OHBA) at Oregon State University. These archives chronicle the organization's inception, development, leadership, and member activities.
External links
- Official website
- Pink Boots Society documentation from 2014
- Pink Boots Society Finding Aid hosted by Oregon State University Libraries