OSU Craft Brewery Startup Workshop Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Pink Boots Society is proud to announce that Nardia McGrath of Newfoundland, Canada is the recipient of the Oregon State University Craft Brewery Startup Workshop scholarship.

Chosen by the PBS Scholarship Selection Committee (SSC), five very experienced women beer professionals who hold positions as brewers, educators and writers, they chose Nardia to receive this scholarship because “she has some practical knowledge” but being located “rather far from a craft centric city, she isn’t able to drive a few hours to do research.”

Nardia started her career in craft beer in 2008, taking a job at an Australian brewery as a bartender but also helping out in the brewery by washing kegs and assisting on the bottling line whenever she could. After a year there she sought out formal brewing education in the U.K. where she obtained a Diploma of British Brewing Technology, a step in her career that she describes as “invaluable.”

Returning to Australia and Bridge Road Brewers after her degree she quickly stepped into a role as a brewer where she oversaw expansions, increased production, introduced QC procedures and designed and released her own successful commercial beer. Over the next four years she held brewer positions at two other breweries, relocated to Newfoundland and made the decision to open a brewery in “an area of the world with very few craft breweries operating, but consumers crying out for more variety.” As this is her first time opening a brewery she feels this course “would be extremely beneficial in helping me achieve my goal of opening a brewery.”

The Oregon State University Professional and Continuing Education Craft Brewery Startup Workshop focuses on developing a working and feasible craft brewery business plan, best practices and marketing strategies for a small business and acquiring capital and infrastructure including how to source ingredients and beer brewing equipment. Participants will research brewery trends and gain entrepreneurial insights on business and management from successful brewery owners.

In addition to attending the course, Nardia will receive a pair of pink steel-toe rubber boots when she fulfills the Pay It Forward requirement associated with the scholarship.

Business of Distribution Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Pink Boots Society is proud to announce that Jamie Herrera of El Puente Global Craft in San Diego, CA is the recipient of the 2015 Business of Distribution scholarship, a partnership with San Diego State University College of Extended Studies and Karl Strauss Brewing Co.

Chosen by the PBS Scholarship Selection Committee (SSC), five very experienced women beer professionals who hold positions as brewers, educators and writers, they chose Jamie to receive this scholarship because “her education and aspirations align well with the course and her eagerness is apparent.”

Jamie holds a master’s degree in international management and policy with a focus on supply chain operations and trade which she is combining with her love of craft beer and Latin American business training and experience as she plans her international beer marketing and distribution business, El Puente Global Craft. She is currently looking at “already beer-consuming Latin America” and “assessing possibilities in emerging markets in other areas that currently have a less saturated craft beer market but are promising for a potentially growing consumer market” to “identify countries whose higher educated populations have spent time in the US, enjoy US craft beers (particularly from San Diego), and return to their country with a desire for better quality or more diverse options for beer.” She is looking forward to what this course, and other education she is pursuing, can contribute to making her business successful.

The one day Business of Distribution course, instructed by Chad Heath, the Senior Director of Southern California Sales for Stone Brewing Co., will teach attendees how to evaluate all wholesalers in a market as well as how to best manage them once one has been selected. Participants will also learn how to maximize the three tier system, what impact using a wholesaler will have on the bottom line and what will be expected of breweries. All aspects of supplier to wholesaler relationships will be covered, including how to effectively and efficiently work with a wholesaler. In addition to the course Karl Strauss Brewing Co. will provide a dinner for two.

In addition to attending the course, Jamie will receive a pair of pink steel-toe rubber boots when she fulfills the Pay It Forward requirement associated with the scholarship.

Cicerone BeerSavvy® Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Pink Boots Society is proud to announce that Galit Deviri, co-owner of Beer-D Brewing Supplies in Tel Aviv, Israel, is the recipient of the second 2015 Cicerone BeerSavvy® scholarship.

Chosen by the PBS Scholarship Selection Committee (SSC), five very experienced women beer professionals who hold positions as brewers, educators and writers, they chose Galit to receive this scholarship because although she is one of the few women in the beer industry in Israel she, “is already doing so much to heighten exposure,” and is, “motivated to grow the industry as a whole and for women.”

During the last decade Galit has worked to support Israeli beer culture by opening Beer-D, a craft beer center that imports to Israel and markets all brewing ingredients both for home brewers and craft brewers, holds courses for home brewing and beer tasting workshops, organizes beer brewing competitions and helps home brewers with recipe formulation. The Israeli craft beer industry is on its initial steps and by taking this course Galit intends to, “strengthen my status as professional authority so I can continue my efforts in marketing the women role in this industry.”

In 2014 she participated in International Women’s Collaboration Brew Day, IWCBD, and donated the proceeds to single parent mothers. Currently she’s working with Tuborg Israel on a project for International Women’s Day and as part of that plans to connect them to IWCBD. She’s looking forward to opening opportunities to promote the female voice in the “menly” Israeli craft beer scene.

The Cicerone BeerSavvy® Course is comprehensive self-paced online beer training course designed to enhance knowledge of brewing techniques, beer styles, understanding flavors and off-flavors, food pairings and the language to clearly discuss beer. The course is beneficial for many people who work in the beer industry including those who are educating others about beer.

In addition to attending the course, Galit will receive a pair of pink steel-toe rubber boots when she fulfills the Pay It Forward requirement associated with the scholarship.

PSU Business of Craft Brewing Certificate Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Pink Boots Society is proud to announce that Lauren Silano, co-owner of Neptune’s Brewery in Montana, is the recipient of the 2015 Portland State University Online Business of Craft Brewing Certificate course scholarship.

Chosen by the PBS Scholarship Selection Committee (SSC), five very experienced women beer professionals who hold positions as brewers, educators and writers, they chose Lauren to receive this scholarship feeling she, “is the best fit for the scholarship because she has little previous brewing industry experience and thus will benefit the most from the scholarship/course.”

Lauren and her husband purchased Neptune’s in 2014, he contributing his love of brewing beer and she bringing her love of business to the venture. While she doesn’t have a background in the beer world she feels, “I have an advantage, because I’m not held back by knowledge of “what everyone else does”. This has helped our brewery to be seen as thinking outside the box, and coming up with new and creative ways of increasing revenue.” Lauren is however concerned about lacking some basic knowledge which drove her to apply for the scholarship. Having completed her MBA with online courses she knows the key, saying “what you put in is what you will get out, I’m ready to put in 100%.”

Portland State University’s Online Business of Craft Brewing Certificate consists of two required courses that will focus on the commerce skills needed to create a viable basic startup business plan in order to make a brewery business efficient and profitable as well as two elective courses. Students will be introduced to the various players and processes that go into producing and selling craft beverages, from growing grains and hops, to malting, brewing, distribution and retail environments. By the end of the four-course certificate, students will have an investor-ready business plan to present to potential backers, the craft beverage start-up community and other potential business partners.

In addition to attending the course, Lauren will receive a pair of pink steel-toe rubber boots when she fulfills the Pay It Forward requirement associated with the scholarship.

University of California, Davis Extension Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Pink Boots Society is proud to announce that Abbey Spencer of St. Louis, MO is the recipient of the 2015 University of California, Davis Extension Intensive Brewing Science for Practical Brewing course scholarship.

Chosen by the PBS Scholarship Selection Committee (SSC), five very experienced women beer professionals who hold positions as brewers, educators and writers, they chose Abbey to receive this scholarship due to her “excellent blend of Cicerone training, collaborative beer experience,” and that she is “about to embark upon a challenging career of helping a small brewery startup.”

That brewery startup is set to open in early 2016 and Abbey has accepted the position of brewer, something she was at first hesitant about due to her lack of commercial brewing experience. Since then she been doing everything she can to prepare herself, including applying for the scholarship. “Knowing my personality and slight tendencies toward perfectionism, I know I might never feel truly “ready,” but I want to push myself as much as I can for this opportunity of a lifetime. The UC Davis course is one of many steps I plan to take to make this really happen,” said Abbey.

While she may be lacking in commercial brewing experience, Abbey is an avid homebrewer that has turned her entire basement into a beer storage and brewing facility, repurposing the bathroom as her fermentation room and establishing a dedicated sour corner. She joined the homebrew club, St. Louis Brews, about which she says, “I have learned more about brewing and tasting beer from The Brews than I could have ever imagined. The club sponsored my BJCP training and testing which allowed me to hone my palate. I am currently a Recognized BJCP judge, working toward my full certification.”

The University of California, Davis Extension Intensive Brewing Science for Practical Brewing course is a five day on-site course that offers an intensive introduction to the sciences of brewing, engineering and brewing practice. Attendees will learn the technological and biochemical aspects of the entire brewing process from world renowned instructors Drs. Charles Bamforth and Michael Lewis. In addition to formal lectures, the course includes a tour of a famous craft brewery and beer tasting with a professional sensory scientist.

In addition to attending the course, Abbey will receive a pair of pink steel-toe rubber boots when she fulfills the Pay It Forward requirement associated with the scholarship.

Cicerone BeerSavvy® Course Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Pink Boots Society is proud to announce that Melissa Maki is the recipient of the 2015 Cicerone BeerSavvy® Course scholarship. Melissa is a beer writer who has had articles published in All About Beer, Celebrator Beer News and most recently, American Brewster.

The PBS Scholarship Selection Committee (SSC), five very experienced women beer professionals who hold positions as brewers, educators and writers, chose Melissa to receive this scholarship as a way to help this dedicated beer writer gain more knowledge, a springboard to her delving deeper into the field.

In 2009 Melissa had the opportunity to live in Belgium for a year, during which time she found work as a journalist under a “kickass female editor who took a chance on me and encouraged me to write pieces about subjects like breweries and bike rides.” She wrote about De Dolle, Westvleteren and An De Ryck, one of the few female brewers in Belgium. Melissa described it as “the ultimate dream job” and it was so influential that when she returned to the United States she knew couldn’t go back to a regular job. Instead she, “wanted to embrace a career as a freelance writer—and ultimately (hopefully) a beer writer.”

Melissa writes about more than just beer but beer and women in the beer industry are her favorite topics to write about and it is her goal to turn the tide so that the majority of her income is from those subjects. Working towards that she feels that, “the BeerSavvy course would allow me to start the process of acquiring advanced technical knowledge, which would also give me a higher level of confidence in my own abilities.”

The Cicerone BeerSavvy® Course is comprehensive self-paced online beer training course designed to enhance knowledge of brewing techniques, beer styles, understanding flavors and off-flavors, food pairings and the language to clearly discuss beer. The course is beneficial for many people who work in the beer industry including beer writers.

In addition to attending the course, Melissa will receive a pair of pink steel-toe rubber boots when she fulfills the Pay It Forward requirement associated with the scholarship.

Barth-Haas Hops Academy Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Pink Boots Society is proud to announce that Cheyenne McCarthy is the recipient of the 2015 Barth-Haas Hops Academy scholarship. Cheyenne works for Fallbrook Brewing Company in San Diego County, CA.

The PBS Scholarship Selection Committee (SSC), five very experienced women beer professionals who hold positions as brewers, educators and writers, chose Cheyenne to receive this scholarship due to her eagerness to learn and the value she places on education, from both the teacher and student sides.

Cheyenne, in addition to being a beertender at Fallbrook, is also a teacher and tutor. Having previously conducted lectures and Q&A sessions specializing in community outreach and education, she is looking forward to doing her part to, “contribute to the brewing industry’s cohesive partnership of men and women collaboratively producing our favorite social elixir,” and, “directly encourage, engage, and empower other women in the industry.”

In her youth Cheyenne often accompanied her grandfather when he had his growler filled with a new craft beer. “He was always exhilarated, and by extension so was I,” she said. Those experiences have stayed with her and inspired her to delve into brewing. A self-described novice homebrewer, she is looking to take her experience to the next level by gaining hands-on experience at the Hops Academy “to better understand the underlying chemistry and flavors” of the beers she serves at Fallbrook and ultimately become the next female Master Cicerone.

Barth-Haas Hops Academy is a two day, on-site course in Yakima, WA that will cover topics including new trends in hop breeding, hop chemistry and brewing techniques. Top researchers and growers from around the world will speak on new hop varieties, products, usage, and analytical and sensory evaluation techniques to gauge hop and beer quality. There will be tours of the Haas hop farm and production facility, where attendees will experience the hop fields and witness all components of hop production from whole hops to CO2 extract, and a guided tour of Haas Innovations Research Brewery.

In addition to attending the course, Cheyenne will receive a pair of pink steel-toe rubber boots when she fulfills the Pay It Forward requirement associated with the scholarship.

YCH Hop & Brew School Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Pink Boots Society is proud to announce that Brienne Allan is the recipient of the 2015 YCH Hop & Brew School scholarship. Brienne is a brewer for Jack’s Abby Brewing in Framingham, MA.

Chosen by the PBS Scholarship Selection Committee (SSC), five very experienced women beer professionals who hold positions as brewers, educators and writers, they felt Brienne should receive this scholarship due to the initiative she has taken to seek out education since starting at Jack’s Abby, something the brewery manager commended her on in his letter of recommendation.

Brienne has been with Jack’s Abby since 2012 where she’s had the opportunity to gain experience with barrel-aging, sour beer production and an array of cellering responsibilities. She knows that being employed at a brewery that produces hop-forward lagers she’ll be able to put what she learns at the Hop & Brew School to good use.

Prior to joining the brewing staff Brienne worked both in the tasting room and in the packaging department where she was responsible for all aspects of packaging from equipment maintenance to employee management. She has also been involved with the Master Brewers Association of America and attended Hopunion Hop Academy, the Brewers Guild Quality Control Seminar and multiple festivals to increase her knowledge base.

YCH’s Hop & Brew School is a two day, on-site course in Yakima, WA, consisting of presentations by hop and brewing experts, including award-winning brewers from across the United States speaking on hop usage, recipe formulation and brewing methods. Local hop farmers will also be in attendance to address the numerous growing aspects of hops — from yields and aroma characteristics to new, up and coming proprietary varieties. Also included is a ranch tour, where attendees will experience the hop fields and witness hop picking, drying and baling, as well as a guided tour of YCH headquarters, where they will observe the receiving and warehousing of the hops.

In addition to attending the course, Brienne will receive a pair of pink steel-toe rubber boots when she fulfills the Pay It Forward requirement associated with the scholarship.

Oregon State University Beer Quality & Analysis Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Pink Boots Society is proud to announce that Margaret Bragg is the recipient of Oregon State University’s Beer Quality & Analysis Scholarship. Margaret works as a cellar person/brewer’s assistant at Pike Brewing Co. in Seattle, WA.

Chosen by the PBS Scholarship Selection Committee (SSC), five very experienced women beer professionals who hold positions as brewers, educators and writers, they felt Margaret should receive this scholarship due to her commitment to the industry, desire to learn and motivation to carry forward the Pink Boots Society message.

Margaret landed her first job working at Hale’s Ales 15 years ago where for four years she handled retail beer sales, gave brewery tours and managed their 300+ person mug club, which included organizing monthly events. She worked for a brewery but didn’t get a chance to work in a brewery until taking a position with Pike in 2010 running the bottling line. Not exactly a trial by fire but not for the faint-hearted, Margaret recalls, “Without any previous mechanical experience, and within less than two weeks, I was solely responsible for the operation and maintenance of one of the original Prospero bottling lines created for beer.”

Now a brewer’s assistant, Margaret realizes it’s time to be more responsible for her professional growth, including obtaining formal brewing education with a specific focus on gaining more knowledge and understanding of recipe development. She is looking forward to being a part of the lab Pike is developing and has been asked to contribute to the implementation of solid QA/QC and safety programs, all things the rapidly expanding company will need and the course will assist her with.

OSU’s Beer Quality & Analysis course consists of a six week online module followed by a five-day onsite course in Corvallis, OR. It will cover the fundamental methods used to evaluate beer production and microbiological stability throughout the entire beer making process and packaging. Attendees will learn sterile techniques in order to isolate, evaluate and screen brewing yeast and contaminants as well as utilize modern equipment to analyze all parameters of wort and beer.

In addition to attending the course, Margaret will receive a pair of pink steel-toe rubber boots when she fulfills the Pay It Forward requirement associated with the scholarship.

North Dakota State University Barley Field School Scholarship Recipient Announced

The Pink Boots Society is proud to announce that Emily Slayton is the recipient of the North Dakota State University Department of Plant Sciences Barley Field School Scholarship. Emily is co-founder of Skeleton Key Brewery, an education-focused brewery-in-planning in Illinois.

The PBS Scholarship Selection Committee (SSC) is made up of five very experienced women beer professionals who hold positions as brewers, educators and writers. The committee chose Emily to receive this scholarship due to her, “very well-written, very thought-out essay [that] was enjoyable to read” and clearly conveyed her passion.

Emily grew up in suburban Chicago, obtained a journalism degree in Missouri and during a visit to local microbrewery, Flat Branch, while talking with their brewer she connected her emerging interest in craft beer with a long-standing interest in farming. From there she began homebrewing, ditching extract brewing after her first batch and moving to all-grain. Since then she has continued to nurture her agricultural interest by purchasing hop rhizomes and exploring the ability to grow barley in her 1,000 square foot suburban backyard.

Along with her husband and partners, Emily is currently helping to get Skeleton Key Brewery off the ground. They hope to “become a community hub for craft beer enthusiasts, offering a wide range of classes on everything from extract brewing and sensory training to growing your own hops and barley.” She feels this scholarship will be her, “chance to not just learn about growing and malting barley, but to…share it with others.”

NDSU’s Barley Field School is a three-day onsite course that will take place in Fargo, ND at their state-of-the-art Agricultural Experimentation Station Research Greenhouse Complex. During classroom sessions, participants will learn how to grow high quality barley for malting, prevent diseases and pests in fields, and learn the best practices for managing risk when growing and marketing malting barley. Attendees will also have hands-on sessions on crossing techniques used in barley breeding research, utilizing barley and malt quality testing equipment, and grain marketing and take tours of experimental barley plots, pathology nurseries, an industrial grain facility and a private barley farm.

In addition to attending the course, Emily will receive a pair of pink steel-toe rubber boots when she fulfills the Pay It Forward requirement associated with the scholarship.