10th Annual YCH Hop Rub: Asheville Chapter

We are ecstatic to announce that the Asheville Chapter has been selected as one of only a dozen PBS chapters internationally to participate in the 10th Annual Yakima Chief Hops (YCH) Rub and Blend!
The Hop Rub experience will take place at Oklawaha Brewing in Hendersonville, NC from 6:00-8:30pm. Special thanks to the Oklawaha team for hosting this event and giving Asheville folks a great excuse to get out of town for a few hours!

What happens during a hop rub, you ask?
Expect to get hands-on with one of beer's core ingredients, hops. YCH will provide our chapter with a curated hop kit featuring 6-8 core hop varieties from this year's crop (varieties will be a surprise until the day of the event), plus an info sheet, a sensory lexicon and a group blend selection worksheet. The Hop Rub will also include a thoughtful discussion about the hop varieties led by Zack, the brewer at Oklawaha Brewing.

During the Hop Rub, you will use your sense of touch (hence the rub part) to unlock the hops' aromatics and discuss our thoughts and perceptions in a group setting. We will then create signature blends by combining the hop varieties, resulting in greater, more complex aromatic combinations. Taking notes along the way, we'll then compile our feedback which will be sent directly to YCH for further consideration while building the 2026 hop blend. As always, a portion of the proceeds from all bags of PBS x YCH hops will benefit Pink Boots.

Pink Boots members attend for free! Due to the limited number of spots, an RSVP is required to attend. RSVPs must be received no later than Monday, October 12th at 12:00PM EST. If you do not RSVP, we cannot guarantee accommodations or admission to the event.

Attendees will enjoy:
*A complimentary drink ticket (exchangeable for a house made beer or fountain drink).
*Food provided by Feta Flav (gluten free and vegan options guaranteed).
*Access to the Hop Rub experience at the Oklawaha brewery.
*A guided hop varietal discussion led by a career brewer.

A few notes about admission:
*Priority registration goes to Asheville Chapter members; register early to guarantee your spot! Registration for Asheville Chapter members starts Monday, September 7th and lasts until Monday, October 12th.

**Secondary registration for PBS members from all other chapters starts Tuesday, September 15th and runs through Monday, October 12th (or until "sold out"). This delayed registration period ensures that Asheville Chapter members have a chance to RSVP before we open up registration to members from other chapters (and non-member beer enthusiasts).

***Non-members are eligible to purchase tickets to the Hop Rub experience starting Tuesday, September 15th; proceeds will benefit the Asheville Chapter and fund scholarships and educational opportunities for members. Interested non-members should contact pbsasheville@pinkbootssociety.org with any questions.

The itinerary for the event is as follows:
*6-6:30pm: Arrival and check-in. Receive your drink ticket, grab a beverage and mingle with other members/attendees.
*6:30-7:30pm: Hop Rub experience in the brewery.
*7:30-8:30pm: Enjoy food courtesy of Feta Flav, live music, and additional beverages available for purchase.

Members: RSVP on the PBS members portal or by emailing pbsasheville@pinkbootssociety.org. We are so excited to participate in this year's Hop Rub experience with you all!