Don’t be dissuaded by Philly’s craft brew scene.
A locally made beer that gets props from residing in neighborhoods like Fishtown and Callowhill isn’t just created by hipster men clad in plaid shirts, grandpa suspenders, large framed faux glasses, overly groomed beards and man-buns with yappy dogs nestled in inked arms with oh-so meaningful tattoos.
OK, maybe some are. But there’s an upcoming event out to showcase just how much beer is for and made by women in this town, too.
That’s why the ladies of Philadelphia’s beer industry and of the local chapter of the Pink Boots Society, an organization that empowers women professionals, announced The Bold Women & Beer Festival, the first ever women’s centric beer festival and collaborative brew day. The event will take place on May 4 at Love City Brewing as well as over 10 satellite breweries throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey.
Throughout the festival, the women beer experts will brew and showcase a range of styles, from IPAs to Cream Ales, Sours to Saisons, beer lovers will also have a first taste of the collaborative Smash It Up Saison, a mixed fermentation American Farmhouse Ale, with what’s being called the Pink Boots Hop Blend, featuring Saison Yeast and Brettanomyces (6.5% ABV).
“A lot of planning is going into this,” said Erin Wallace, president of the Philadelphia Chapter of Pink Boots Society. “Working with the breweries to find ways to highlight their female employees, working to find the right images for the event that are not too girly feminine and can still appeal to all people.”
The Bold Women & Beer Festival will host food trucks, live music, and over 30 breweries from Pennsylvania and New Jersey. All of the proceeds will be donated to the Pink Boots Society Scholarship Fund, designed to help educate women in the beer industry.
Inspired by the other women beer festivals emerging around the world, Wallace took note of festivals like Bière de Femme Festival in North Carolina, FemALE in Florida and Dames and Drags in the United Kingdom when crafting The Bold Women & Beer Festival. The owner of Devil’s Den and Old Eagle Tavern, Wallace explained the biggest draw of the fest is its collaborative nature, which will produce new, limited and otherwise rare beers.
“There are some great collaboration beers brewed for this event that you won’t be able to get outside the brewery,” said Wallace. “Some female forward breweries that are just making their way to Philly, like Ever Grain Brewing Company, Zeroday Brewing Co, Eight & Sand Beer Co. from New Jersey and Wallenpaupack, these are not beers you see at every beer festival in the city.”
The Bold Women & Beer Festival| May 4. 1-4 p.m. $45. Love City Brewing, 1023 Hamilton St. eventbrite.com/e/bold-women-beer-festival-tickets-58375932987
TWITTER: @ANDREAJCANTOR
BOLD AND BEAUTIFUL
As it stands, 28 brewers and breweries have committed its support to the upcoming Bold Women & Beer Festival popping off on May 4. Organizers say there’s more to come, but for now, here’s the ever-growing list.
Cape May Brewing Company
Eight and Sand Brewing Company
Ever Grain Brewing Company
Evil Genius Brewing Company
Flying Fish Brewing Company
Free Will Brewing Company
Goose Island Philadelphia Brew House
Iron Hill Brewing
La Cabra Brewing
Levante Brewing Company
Love City Brewing Company
Moss Mill Brewing Company
Naked Brewing Company
Philadelphia Brewing Company
Roy Pitz Brewing Company
Spellbound Brewing Company
Sterling Pig Brewing Company
Stoudt’s Brewing Company
Tannery Run Brew Works
Terrapin Brewing Company
Tonewood Brewing
University of Sciences Brewing Program
Wallenpaupack Brewing Company
Workhorse Brewing Company
Wyndridge Farm
Yards Brewing Company
Yuengling Brewing Company
ZeroDay Brewing
TWITTER: @ANDREAJCANTOR
