Ledes from the Land of Enchantment

Icebox Brewing celebrates female brewers with Pink Boots Society beer

LAS CRUCES – Icebox Brewing Company joined with the Pink Boots Society this International Women’s Day to celebrate women in the industry by brewing a limited edition blend they’re calling Mesilla Valley Sunset Sour.

Pink Boots Society is a nonprofit organization that works to assist both women and nonbinary individuals who work in the fermented and alcoholic beverage industry. Annually, the organization partners with Yakima Chief Hops which provides the hops blend to participating breweries.

According to the nonprofit’s website, $3 per pound of hops sold is donated to Pink Boots Society to support the education and scholarships they offer. Icebox Brewing was one of three breweries in New Mexico to join in with Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day in early March.

Emily Fenske, a student at New Mexico State University and part-time brewer for Icebox Brewing, joins in on the Pink Boots Society brew day March 8, 2022.

Local members of the organization, members of the Mesilla Valley Homebrewers Club, New Mexico State University student brewers and brewers at Icebox came together March 8 to get the beer started.

Icebox’s Head Brewer Garrett Denmark said the collaboration had not happened in Las Cruces before. He explained that Icebox often purchases hops from Yakima Chief, but this particular blend lent itself to an IPA.

Melissa Kearns, member of the Mesilla Valley Homebrewers Club, joins in on the Pink Boots Society brew day March 8, 2022 at Icebox Brewing.

“It was a lot of hops that are kind of like citrus, and fruity and tropical and a little sweet. And so we thought that the characteristics of the hops would go well with an IPA,” Denmark said. “We did a kettle sour with hibiscus flowers and then we made that into an IPA.”

Six to seven barrels were brewed and will be available on draft to customers on April 7 for about a month, or until it runs out. About 20% of the sales will be donated back to Pink Boots Society.

Denmark said Icebox is happy to collaborate with the nonprofit again but hopes to get other Las Cruces breweries involved.

Icebox Brewing staff and Mesilla Valley Homebrewers Club are pictured on their Pink Boots Society brew day on March 8, 2022.

“The whole mentality and idea of ​​these collaborations and what we’re trying to achieve is that we kind of share the wealth and try to grow the community in Las Cruces of brewing. And grow the Pink Boots Society community and just like more awareness for all the women in the industry.”

Leah Romero is the trending reporter at the Las Cruces Sun-News and can be reached at 575-418-3442, [email protected] or @rromero_leah on Twitter.

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