The U.S. Open Beer Championship has made significant strides in supporting women and non-binary individuals in the brewing industry through its Pink Boots Category. Introduced three years ago, this category has not only shed light on the contributions of women brewers but has also generated substantial financial support for their professional development.

Since its inception in 2022, the Pink Boots Category has facilitated donations exceeding $10,000 to the Pink Boots Society Scholarship Fund. This fund plays a crucial role in empowering women and non-binary individuals in the beer industry by providing educational opportunities and resources. The scholarships enable recipients to enhance their skills, knowledge, and expertise in various aspects of brewing, from technical processes to business management.
This milestone demonstrates the impact of targeted initiatives in promoting diversity and inclusion within the brewing community. By creating a dedicated category and channeling proceeds towards education, the U.S. Open Beer Championship has established a sustainable model for supporting underrepresented groups in the industry.

The success of the Pink Boots Category serves as an inspiration for other competitions and organizations to implement similar initiatives, fostering a more inclusive and diverse brewing landscape for future generations.

2024 Pink Boots Hop Blend category – Medal Winners
GOLD – Hear Us Roar – Toms River Brewing – NJ
SILVER – Sally Skull – Infamous Brewing Company – Texas
BRONZE  – Pink Side of the Moon 2024 – Vallensons’ Brewing Company – Texas

Pink Boots Society
The Pink Boots Society is an organization of movers and shakers in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry. It’s members make fermented and alcoholic beverages with the highest possible quality and are the women and non-binary individuals that own the companies, package the product, design the labels, serve the drinks, write about our industry – and just about everything in between. Most importantly, the members teach each other what they know through their own seminar programs, and help each other advance both front-of-the-house and back-of-the-house careers by raising money for educational scholarships.