Crafting change

As women show more muscle in the workforce, politics and media, change is brewing across the nation — some of that coming to Gainesville on Friday.

Betty Mejia, a brewer for the Miami-based Lincoln's Beard Brewing Company, represented one of seven other breweries across the state that helped create a new beer at Swamp Head Brewery.

About a dozen women attended the event at the local brewery, at 3650 SW 42nd Ave., to help raise awareness for women’s rights. They spent most of the day creating a New England-style, hazy hibiscus session IPA to sell on International Women’s Day, March 8.

It will be Swamp Head's 1,000th type of beer.

“Most of the people that work in the industry are guys,” said Mejia. “It’s a heavy-lifting job. You're sweating all day, you're working on legs and carrying stuff. It’s fun to have other girls to be like “hey, I do it, its OK, you can, too.””

The brew will be limited to a 15-barrel batch. Some of the proceeds will then go to support Pink Boots Society, said Swamp Head employee Molly Eveleth.

“One beer together, that's why we’re all here today,” she said.

Pink Boots Society is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to supporting women in the brewing industry.

Eveleth said the beer, Boss Bird, will feature a flamingo as the logo and be sold at participating breweries. Patrons will be able to taste the beer by can or draft.

Sarah Nich, of Wop’s Hops Brewing in Sanford, said it was rewarding to participate in a statewide beer project, something she’s never done before.

“Now more than ever, I feel like comradery is so important to us in the industry,” she said. “Just having the support system and being able to create something together is very validating for all of us, especially when, separately, we very much feel like a minority in our industry.”

Jessica LaPointe traveled from Jacksonville to participate in the brew. She works in the tap room of Intuition Ale Works and also is a member of the Pink Boots Society.

“I thought it was a really great opportunity to join a lot of other women, whether they are in the society or not, to come together to make a delicious beer for everyone...”

Megan Michael, from Clearwater, represented Big Storm Brewing.

Despite the industry being male dominated, she said, more women are wanted in the industry. She said the recipe took weeks to figure out, with lots of back-and-forth discussions.

Mejia, the Miami brewer, said the process was a fun experience with no one brewery trying to compete or one-up the other.

“The whole purpose of this is empowering women,” she said. “Everyone is friends.”

 For more inofrmation on Pink Boots Society, www.pinkbootssociety.org.