Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) brewers are celebrating International Women's Day with the release of a new Pink Boots Collaboration Collective beer.
The new beer was crafted by KPU brewing students, instructors and staff.
This annual global initiative, led by the Pink Boots Society, invites breweries to create a unique beer, with proceeds going towards supporting scholarships and professional development for women and non-binary individuals in the brewing profession.
For this year's collaboration, KPU's Brewing and Brewery Operations program has crafted the Shared Path India Session Ale, which will be available for public sales at the KPU Brew Lab and at Farm Country Brewing.
"Seeing students take the lead this year has been incredibly inspiring, as it reflects the motivation and leadership skills they will carry into the workplace," says brewing instructor Martina Solano Bielen.
"We've been participating in this collaboration for eight years now, and each time it creates a fun, meaningful and collaborative space for women and non-binary individuals to learn from one another, work together and support each other."
The brewing team, consisting of students, instructors and staff, crafted a recipe that showcases vibrant aromatics and a balanced flavour. The final product is a soft, juicy hazy India Session Ale with bright tropical and fruity hop aromas and a smooth, refreshing finish.
Students had a hand in every stage of the process -- from recipe development and production to packaging and release planning -- with one student even taking the lead.
"As a brewing student working in commercial production, leading the recipe development for Shared Path was both exciting and meaningful," says KPU brewing student Maria Yun. "This collaboration highlights how supportive the brewing community is for women working in the industry. The name Shared Path reflects how we continue to learn, grow and support one another throughout our brewing journeys."
Shared Path will be available to the public for purchase in growler fills at the KPU Brew Lab on Friday, March 6 from 1-6 pm.
It will also be available on International Women's Day on Sunday, March 8 at Farm Country Brewing in Langley, B.C. for the brewery's Tap Takeover event. This event celebrates the talented women and non-binary members of Langley's craft beer community, with a portion of proceeds going to the Pink Boots Society Canada and the Ishtar Women's Resources Society.
