By DCBeer Contributor Tammy Portnoy
The newly forming DMV Chapter of the Pink Boots Society held a Belated Big Boots Brew Day yesterday at Right Proper's Brookland Production House. Twenty women from various breweries, organizations, and beer bars around the DMV started mashing in before 8 a.m. with Head Brewer Nathan Zeender helping the group to navigate his brew system, a unique beast in itself.
The beer – a citrus-focused variation of this year's Big Boots suggestion, a Pink Boots Gose – was realized through donations. The Country Malt Group provided the malt, via former Devils Backbone Brewer / current Sales Manager April Anderson. 3 Stars Brewer/QC Allison Lange pitched in Galaxy hops to complement the Mandarina Bavaria hops from Right Proper’s Zeender. Stephanie Strazisar brought blood oranges from Meridian Pint for an added zest, which were juiced along with grapefruits to be added later during the lacto process. Finally, juniper was substituted in lieu of coriander, the typical spice in a gose. The consensus was that these ingredients would coalesce well to make a tart and juicy Gose.
Tentatively named Gogo Gose, after Right Proper Owners’ Thor and Leah Cheston’s dog Gogo, the beer will be released at the end of April at Right Proper's Brookland Production House, Meridian Pint and additional beer-centric bars in DC. A portion of profits from the beer sales will be donated to the Pink Boots Society, which helps women advance their careers in the beer industry through education.
Typically an annual event close to International Women's Day (March 8), during International Women's Month, Big Boots Brew Day grew out of Pink Boots Society members around the world participating in International Women's Collaboration Brew Day to raise the profile of women in the beer industry.
The goal of the DMV chapter is to connect women in the region who work in the beer industry; to be able to support each other on a social and professional level.
For more information, connect through Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/groups/pinkbootsdmv/), Twitter (@pinkbootsdmv) or reach out through email (pinkbootsdmv@gmail.com).
