Teri Fahrendorf

Teri Fahrendorf
Teri Fahrendorf
Born	February 18, 1960 (age 66); Wisconsin, United States
Occupation(s)	Brewer, Malt Innovation Center Manager
Known for	Founder of the Pink Boots Society

Teri Fahrendorf (born February 18, 1960) is a notable American brewer and the creator of the Pink Boots Society, an organization dedicated to empowering women within the brewing field.

As one of the pioneering female figures in the craft brewing community, Fahrendorf’s beers have received accolades from both the Great American Beer Festival and the Brewer's Association.

Early life and education

Growing up as the eldest of four siblings in a German-American household in Wisconsin, Fahrendorf’s initial encounter with fermentation began at age 10 through baking bread. She pursued a degree in Management Information Systems at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire, where she honed project management abilities that later proved valuable in her brewing career. During college, a classmate’s presentation on winemaking inspired her to try producing “Balloon wine” on her own.

Upon graduating in 1984, Fahrendorf relocated to the San Francisco Bay area and worked with Fortune 100 firms Honeywell and Burroughs (which became Unisys) in software support and services. Transitioning from winemaking at home to brewing beer in 1985, she joined the San Andreas Malts club to deepen her understanding of essential brewing components: malt, hops, yeast, and temperature control. She also participated in industry gatherings such as the American Homebrewers Association Conference and the Great American Beer Festival.

Early work as a brewmaster

In 1988, Fahrendorf left her programming profession to study Brewing Technology at the Siebel Institute in Chicago, completing an internship at Sieben River North Brewpub. Returning to California, she began brewing at Golden Gate Brewing Company in Berkeley in March 1989. Unfortunately, management transitions combined with an inefficient brewery layout resulted in what she recalls as her most challenging brewing period.

On May 1, 1989, while operating a 7-barrel system, a malfunctioning kettle design caused approximately 50 gallons of boiling water to spill onto her left leg. This accident inflicted third-degree burns covering 11% of her body, necessitating surgery and skin grafts. The experience motivated Fahrendorf to become a vocal advocate for brewery safety, frequently recounting her story in public forums.

Following recovery, she departed Golden Gate Brewing for Triple Rock Brewing in Berkeley, taking on the role of Head Brewer. In 1990, after attending the Oregon Brewers Festival, she secured a position with Steelhead Brewing in Oregon.

Work at Steelhead Brewing Company

After her tenure at Triple Rock Brewing, Fahrendorf relocated to Oregon to join Steelhead Brewing Company located in Eugene, Oregon. As Eugene’s second craft brewery, Steelhead welcomed her on September 17, 1990. She held the position of Brewmaster for 17 years, during which she crafted award-winning beers such as the cult classic Bombay Bomber and "U.C.I.P.A.," which earned a Silver Medal at the Great American Beer Festival. Additionally, she created Steelhead’s well-known root beer formula. Throughout the 1990s, Fahrendorf observed substantial expansion across West Coast craft breweries and credited her extended period in Eugene with helping her navigate the early 2000s craft beer industry downturn.

Road brewer

In 2007, Fahrendorf departed from Steelhead to embark on a unique role as a "road brewer," covering 12,656 miles throughout the United States, journeying from Oregon to Maine and back between June and October. During this expedition, she visited 70 breweries and brewed at 38 of them, establishing a broad network of brewers nationwide. Throughout her travels, she connected with numerous female brewers who frequently experienced isolation as the sole women in their breweries. Identifying the need for a supportive network, she gathered contacts that eventually formed the basis of the Pink Boots Society.

Founding of the Pink Boots Society and Barley's Angels

Fahrendorf has been a proactive advocate for women within the brewing sector, founding the Pink Boots Society (PBS) following her cross-country Road Brewer adventure. She points to brewery education as a significant obstacle for women entering the field, although she does not perceive an overarching glass ceiling in brewing. Her early professional path was shaped by Mellie Pullman, recognized as the first female brewmaster in the United States.

Utilizing connections made during her travels, Fahrendorf convened PBS’s inaugural meeting in San Diego in April 2008, naming it after her distinctive pink rubber boots. This initial assembly brought together 16 brewers and 6 beer writers who laid the groundwork for PBS as a global professional network supporting women in brewing. By 2017, membership expanded to nearly 1,900 participants. PBS functions as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization focused on providing scholarships, educational resources, and outreach initiatives. The society’s records are preserved at Oregon State University’s Special Collections and Archives Research Center.

Additionally, Fahrendorf played a role in Barley’s Angels, a national group committed to increasing craft beer knowledge and appreciation among women.

Present day work

After completing her Road Brewer journey and establishing PBS, Fahrendorf remains active in craft brewing as the Malt Innovation Center Manager at Great Western Malting. Her accomplishments include brewing eight of Steelhead’s 24 award-winning beers at the Great American Beer Festival, authoring technical publications, delivering presentations, and earning the Brewers Association’s Recognition Award in 2014.

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