8th Annual Pink Boots Blend Incorporates Women Owned Hop Farms

Each year, Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) creates a unique hop blend in support of the Pink Boots Society (PBS), a global non-profit organization whose mission is to assist, inspire, and encourage women and non-binary individuals in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry to advance their careers through education. YCH will donate $1 per pound sold being donated to the non-profit. In its 8th Annual iteration, YCH has called upon women hop farmers in its grower-owner network to have a deeper role in the blend’s creation.

Jessica Riel of Double ‘R’ Hop Ranches, Reggie Brulotte of Brulotte Farms, and Erica Lorentz of Lakeside Ranches each selected their favorite hop lots of the 2024 harvest for consideration. With a dozen personally selected lots on the table, the YCH sensory team created 3 bespoke blends, each unique and compelling. Then, at the annual hop rubbing event at Blue Moon in Denver, Colorado (during the Great American Beer Festival), PBS members evaluated each blend and voted on their favorite. We are pleased to announce that this year’s Pink Boots Blend will be comprised of Simcoe®, Mosaic®, Chinook, and Krush™!

8th Annual Pink Boots Blend Varieties:

  • Simcoe®
  • Mosaic®
  • Chinook
  • Krush™ (HBC 586)

YCH Senior Sensory Manager, Tiffany Pitra orchestrated the creation of the three blends. “Including women growers from across the Pacific Northwest is a meaningful addition to the impact of this blend,” she explains, “It highlights the multifaceted ways women contribute to our industry and exemplify leadership.” The selected blend boasts bright grapefruit notes layered with tropical citrus, supported by lush berries and dank, woody aromas.  “The women who grew these hops have truly inspired me throughout my career. Their passion for their craft is made evident by the quality and flavor of the hops they produce.” Pitra adds.

LOG IN OR CLAIM ACCOUNT TO ORDER ON SPOT.

8th Annual Pink Boots Blend is not available to ship to Canada, New Zealand, or Tawain. Brewers in these countries can reach out to their YCH sales team for more information and options on how to purchase Pink Boots Blend. For general inquiries about the blend, or YCH, please contact us at hops@yakimachief.com.

FEATURED GROWERS

Jessica Riel, Double 'R' Hop Ranches

Erica Lorentz, Lakeside Ranches

Reggie Brulotte, Brulotte Farms

Double ‘R’ Hop Ranches in Harrah, Washington grows a wide variety of hops and contributed Simcoe to this year’s Pink Boots Blend. Fifth-generation owner Jessica Riel notes that while they are relatively new to raising Simcoe, the plants in this particular lot looked exceptionally healthy. “We decided we would let them hang until the later portion of the harvest window,” she explains, “this developed potent aromas and made them very popular throughout Selection.”

Riel grew up on the family farm but moved away for college and pursued other interests, returning in 2015. Today, as an owner of Double ‘R’, she manages everything from accounting to irrigation. Riel has been active within the Pink Boots Society since the early days of the Yakima chapter, supporting the organization by supplying farm fresh hops for Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Days, hosting tours for scholarship recipients, and connecting with chapters in other states both as a presenter and visitor. She appreciates the strong network of individuals working together across different farms, and the encouragement she received while working alongside other women who, like her, joined the hop industry in recent years.

Reflecting on her role as a farm owner, Riel notes that what it means to be a ‘farmer’ today has evolved significantly in the last 50 years. “Today, agriculture offers diverse career paths and opportunities for both creativity and professionalism,” she says for those who may be considering shifting into the hop side of the beer industry. “If you have a passion for sustainability, or nature in general, that of course helps.”

Erica Lorentz of Lakeside Ranches grows several hop varieties but knew immediately when that lot of Mosaic came through that it would be the one because of “The way it looked in the field, the way it picked so cleanly off the bines, the way it smelled.” She checked in with Farm Manager (and cousin) Alexa Weathers for her opinion on the lot and confirmed that this particular Mosaic was at the top of the list. “Some varieties don’t pick as clean, but this one just looked great. Coming in, all throughout the process, we were like ‘Oh yeah this looks good’.”

Lorentz and her husband Jake have taken over her father’s farm (Sodbuster) after several years of learning different aspects of the business. “Jake is in charge of operations, and I have transitioned into more of a leadership role, focused on strategic planning and development,” she says. Lakeside Ranches boasts a 50-50 makeup of women in leadership, and Lorentz emphasizes that her leadership style is focused on company culture and empowering employees to feel confident in what they bring to the farm. Lorentz notes that she has drawn inspiration from peers and friends who, although not in agriculture, are leaders in their industries. “Having those people around me to demonstrate what female leadership looks like has been very helpful,” she says.

Brulotte Farms in Toppenish, Washington has been growing hops for 6 generations and is well known for Bru-1, a variety that owner Reggie Brulotte brought to the industry in 2019. The farm is also branching out into industrial hemp as an alternative crop. Brulotte’s contribution to this year’s blend is Chinook, a beloved classic with a long history on the farm. “We have always had Chinook, we actually had one of the original test blocks when it was still a numbered variety. It’s just a great hop. It has that iconic big green vine, thick cones, it’s just beautiful” she says. When choosing hops for consideration in this year’s blend, Brulotte put trust in her crew and asked them to select the most promising lot of Chinook. “They have never let me down,” she says of her quality team.

Brulotte was one of the first women grower-owners in the region, and although growing up she had never intended to take over the farm, she has made an incredible impact. In 2011 Brulotte received the prestigious International Order of the Hop award, recognizing individuals who have made significant contributions to the hop industry. She gently chuckles and says of her acclaim, “It’s as close to a rockstar as I’ll ever get.” Brulotte has been involved with (and served as president for) the Hop Research Council and has served on the Washington Hop Commission for over twenty years.

“There’s stuff happening around us we aren’t always aware of,” says Brulotte. “But we have the ability to make an impact. We can make changes.” As a trailblazer for women hop farmers, Brulotte points to Ann George as a major influence on her career (and the industry as a whole). George became the director of the Washington Hop Commission when Brulotte was 11 years old. “I remember my dad coming home and talking with my mom about the fact they were voting on a woman. It was significant enough to capture the attention of an 11-year-old,” Brulotte says. “She has been my idol and mentor as long as I can remember.”

In addition to her full-time work as General Manager at Highland Park Brewery in Los Angeles, Blanca Quintero has served as the President of the Pink Boots Society for the past three years. “Incorporating women hop growers into this year’s blend is inspiring. It opens new educational avenues and opportunities for additional learning experiences,” she shares. Education is a cornerstone for PBS, and the organization leverages global cooperation through Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day® (CBD) - an international celebration of women and non-binary individuals in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry, recognizing their impact and invaluable contributions. “Collaboration Brew Day is at the heart of the Pink Boots Society,” says Quintero. “It brings us together, shoulder to shoulder, in a hands-on environment. If you’ve been considering a Collaboration Brew, this is your moment. Collaboration and education are essential to our mission. Aside from funds raised, your participation has the power to make a real and lasting impact.”

Any brewery can participate in this collaboration (regardless of gender or Pink Boots membership status) at any time of year. By registering your brew, you get access to the official logo on your packaging and promotional resources in the Collaboration Brew Day toolkit which is available in English, Spanish, and French.

HOW TO ORDER 8TH ANNUAL PINK BOOTS BLEND:

U.S CUSTOMERS:

1. Log in or claim account on yakimachief.com SPOT to access catalog of products

3. Select PINK BOOTS BLEND from the list of products.

4. Add the 8th Annual Pink Boots Blend to your cart.

5. Check out!

EUROPE CUSTOMERS:

1. Log in or claim account on yakimachief.eu SPOT to access catalog of products

3. Select PINK BOOTS BLEND from the list of products.

4. Add the 8th Annual Pink Boots Blend to your cart.

5. Check out!

NON U.S./EU CUSTOMERS: Please contact your regional sales team through Yakima Chief Hops.

8th Annual Pink Boots Blend is not available to ship to Canada, New Zealand, or Tawain. Brewers in these countries can reach out to their YCH sales team for more information and options on how to purchase Pink Boots Blend. For general inquiries about the blend, or YCH, please contact us at hops@yakimachief.com.