In January we went with a lager, and in February an IPA. For April, let’s combine the two! That’s right, our beer of the month at The Brew Shop in Arlington is Silver Branch’s dry-hopped collaboration with the Pink Boots Society, Power Boots! (We were a bit busy with panels and fundraising and such to write up March’s beer, apologies.)
This beer’s story began at the 2024 Great American Beer Festival in Denver last fall. There members of various Pink Boots Society chapters participated in a hop rubbing to select the 2025 Pink Boots hop blend, sponsored by Yakima Chief Hops; the grower and supplier donates $1 per pound of hops sold to the Pink Boots Society. For our area, “The Pink Boots DC Chapter is focused on bringing members together across the region and fundraising to offer DMV Chapter-specific scholarships,” notes chapter president, Dynasty Brewing Co. staff member, and aspiring brewery owner Lauren Carey.
This year’s blend features Krush™, Simcoe®, Mosaic®, and Chinook. Rather than make yet another IPA, the members of the DC-area Pink Boots chapter met at Silver Branch in early February to brew a lager with this blend, coordinated by Candice Shimanek, Human Resources Manager at Silver Branch and Pink Boots member.
“When we formulated the recipe, we were riffing on the Export lager style with this beer,” says Silver Branch head brewer Jonathan Reeves. Participating brewers included staff at DC Brau, Dynasty, Liquid Intrusion Brewing Company, Mystique Barrel Brewing and Lager House, and Port City Brewing Company. Here the term “export” refers to the strength of the beer, a bit higher in alcohol than the norm. This 6% alcohol by volume beer got the boost in part so the American hops didn’t overpower the rest of the beer, which features a 75-25 breakdown of pilsner malt to rice. Hops were added to the kettle in 4 doses, and the beer was dry hopped with the Pink Boots blend, 1.3 pounds per barrel, before being lagered for three weeks.
The end result is something like an Export West Coast Pilsner. At 45 international bitterness units, the Mosaic in particular really pops, supported by the extra “ooomph” of a 6% lager. It’s not unlike an IPA, but there’s a biscuity crispness to the beer, an easier drinking brew compared to most IPAs. As is the case with all of our beers of the month at The Brew Shop, DC Beer Patreon members get 10% off this beer for the remainder of the month, and stay tuned for more Pink Boots opportunities. “We’re working to organize more educational events and brew days throughout the year. Exciting things ahead!,” notes Carey.
Speaking of exciting things, Silver Branch Rockville Beerworks is nearing its opening, more soon!
