BREWING CONNECTIONS: RECAPPING THE FIRST-EVER PINK BOOTS MALT EXPERIENCE SCHOLARSHIP
By Hailey Thrash-NelsonSix women. One incredible week. A lifetime of inspiration.
This March, six talented women from across North America—hailing from Vancouver, BC; Toronto; New York; Connecticut; Virginia; and California—flew into Portland for the Pink Boots Malt Experience Scholarship. This immersive journey through the craft beverage supply chain was designed to educate, empower, and connect women and non-binary individuals in brewing and distilling. From malting and brewing to cider and fruit purees, this trip had it all.
Day 1: Malt, Hops & Community
The adventure began at the Country Malt Group distribution center in Vancouver, Washington, where the group was welcomed with a hearty, warehouse-cooked breakfast. After fueling up, they toured the bustling warehouse, getting an inside look at operations, the bagging line, and CMG’s malt bag recycling baler in action.
Next up was Great Western Malting, the oldest malting company in the western U.S., located in the Port of Vancouver. Here, the group stepped into the Malt Innovation Center, where they got hands-on with the pilot malting unit and mashed in with Pink Boots Malt—alongside a brand-new malt from Great Western Malting, set to debut at the Craft Brewers Conference next month. The day continued with a deep dive into malting science, learning how to set up a hot steep sensory analysis, and experiencing the full-scale malting facility firsthand.
But the education didn’t stop there—guests from Yakima Chief Hops and AB Biotek joined to share expertise on hops and yeast, rounding out a full-circle look at key brewing ingredients. To close out the day, the group headed to Wayfinder Beer for a lively networking night with the Portland Pink Boots Chapter, where they had the opportunity to meet Pink Boots Society founder, Teri Fahrendorf.
Day 2: A Taste of Oregon’s Craft Beverage Scene
The next morning, the group loaded up and hit the road to Salem, Oregon, for a deep dive into fruit, cider, and hops.
The day kicked off with a tour of Oregon Fruit Company’s puree production facility, where they explored the process behind the high-quality fruit purees used by brewers and beverage makers worldwide. A guided sensory session let them taste the rainbow of different fruit purees, sparking creativity for future recipe development.
Next, they made their way to Bauman’s Farm and Garden, where they enjoyed a farm-fresh lunch (with goats as their lunch companions!) and learned about Bauman’s cider production, from orchard to glass. After that, they visited F&B Farms to explore hop propagation and tour the greenhouse, gaining an inside look at the early stages of hop growing.
Back in Portland, the group wrapped up the evening at Bauman’s newest cider production facility, pairing cider with a thoughtfully curated menu. The night concluded with a visit to Grand Fir Brewing, an award-winning, all-women-led brewery that serves as a beacon of innovation in the industry.
Day 3: Celebrating International Women’s Day at SheBrew
On the final day, the group joined the celebration at SheBrew, a festival honoring women and non-binary individuals in brewing. The morning started with the Brewers Brunch at The Sports Bra, the first-ever sports bar fully dedicated to showcasing women’s sports. The energy was electric as brewers, beverage makers, and industry professionals gathered to kick off the day.
From there, it was time for the 10th Annual SheBrew Festival, a vibrant event featuring both professional and talented amateur female brewers and cider makers. More than just a beer festival, SheBrew is a celebration of equality, with proceeds supporting the Human Rights Campaign. It was the perfect way to wrap up a week filled with learning, camaraderie, and inspiration.
A Legacy in the Making
The Pink Boots Society is dedicated to assisting, inspiring, and encouraging women and non-binary individuals in the fermented and alcoholic beverage industry through education and mentorship. Their members are the movers and shakers of the industry—owning businesses, brewing beer, designing labels, writing about craft beverages, and everything in between.
At Country Malt Group, we’re proud to support Pink Boots Society and were honored to host the first-ever Pink Boots Malt Experience Scholarship. Seeing the connections, learning experiences, and excitement from this group only reinforces the importance of opportunities like this. And hopefully, it’s just the beginning!
Want to get involved? Become a Pink Boots Society member at pinkbootssociety.org and join the movement to uplift and empower the next generation of industry leaders.
