“She’s the Brewer”? Not exactly.
This isn’t grammatical, but wouldn’t a more accurate name for this new beer be “She’s the Brewers”?
This was a team effort, led by Sapporo-Stone Brewing’s female brewers: Cat Wiest at Yakima Chief Hops in Washington state, who blended the hops found in She’s the Brewer, and Heather Jackson and Chelsea Blankenship, farmers who grew said hops at Idaho’s Jackson Hop Farm.
That’s a lot of “shes.” To Fritzi Lara Lino, that’s kinda the point.
“This is a huge collaborative effort,” said Lino, small batch brewer at Sapporo-Stone Brewing in Escondido.
The results will be tasted on Saturday when Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station hosts its annual International Women’s Day dinner. The food served at this four-course feast will be overseen by Chef Kass DeLeon, kitchen manager, while the beers are the brainchildren of Lino, Anali Saiz, Laura Ulrich and other Sapporo-Stone female brewers.
“It’s a male-dominated industry,” said Ulrich, Sapporo-Stone’s materials planner and buyer. “Women are under-represented, but we’ve definitely made progress.”
Ulrich, who was hired by Stone almost 21 years ago, is a prominent voice in the brewery’s Women Impact Network (WIN) and is active in the Pink Boots Society, a national organization that promotes women in the craft beer industry. She’s become a role model for others.
“It definitely helps to have mentors and friends like Laura,” Lino said.
Like many brewers, regardless of gender, Lino began brewing as a hoppy hobby. “That quickly grew into a ion,” she said.
Lino was hired at Stone seven years ago. Her skills were recognized last year, when Lino was awarded a scholarship from the Michael James Jackson Foundation, which allowed her to enroll in U.C. Davis’ master brewer program.
Between course work and regular duties at Stone, Lino helped create beers for Saturday’s dinner. They include Tigresas del Sur, “Tigers of the South,” a pale ale with tamarind; and Stone Double Fireside Magic, an imperial brown ale.
And, naturally, She’s the Brewer.
If you can’t make the dinner — tickets are going fast — you can grab four-packs of She’s the Brewer at Stone locations around the county.
She’s Worth It.
Brewers on Ice
If you like your brewers chilled, mark your calendar for March 29. That’s the date for the 7th annual Pucks & Pints, a charity event featuring an ice hockey game between squads comprised of staff from numerous local breweries.
The day begins at Pechanga Arena at 3500 Sports Arena Blvd., with an amateur Brewers Charity Game from 1 to 2 p.m. That’s followed by a craft beer festival and barbecue at Bay City Brewing at 3760 Hancock St., San Diego. Then the action returns to Pechanga Arena at 6 p.m. for the professional hockey game between the San Diego Gulls and Calgary Wranglers.
Tickets are $65, with proceeds benefiting five charities including the San Diego Brewers Guild. Details and tickets at pucksnpints.com.
The Next Round
ShamROCK, the 29th annual St. Patrick’s Day-themed music and beer festival, returns to the Gaslamp Quarter next weekend for craft beer, Irish brews, cocktails, Celtic rock, Jenga, cornhole, Irish dance lessons and more craic are planned. 2 to 10 p.m. March 15. Fifth Avenue, the Gaslamp Quarter, downtown San Diego. $55 to $130. sandiegoshamrock.com
Quick Sips, Can’t Wait for Spring Edition
Beer: Dark Star
From: Fremont Brewing, Seattle
Alcohol By Volume: 8 percent
Style: Imperial Oatmeal Stout
Drink or Dump: Drink. As a fond farewell to the burly beers of winter, you can’t do better than Dark Star. A beer of exceedingly soft texture, it begins with lip-smacking cream, then some bitter chocolate and French roast coffee. The cream returns on the finish, taking a sweet Star turn.
Capacity Pale Ale
From: Capacity Brewing, San Clemente
ABV: Less than 0.5 percent
Style: Non-Alcoholic Pale Ale
Drink or Dump: Drink. A satisfying booze-free tipple – the only hint you’re drinking an NA beer comes with an unfortunate yet mild chemical tang at the finish. Otherwise, you’ll find exquisite interplay between the firm malts and dank hops in this citrusy ale, which reminded me of orange marmalade on just-baked biscuits.
She’s the Brewer
From: Sapporo-Stone, Liberty Station
ABV: 8.5 percent
Style: West Coast IPA
Drink or Dump: Drink. Like the women who created She’s the Brewer, this beer is confident, well balanced and – now I’m guessing – a bit tropical. A transparent gold capped by a durable off-white head, this IPA’s pine and citrus aromas preview its vibrant orange, mango and pineapple flavors. One quibble: at 8.5 percent, we’re past your typical IPA potency and entering double IPA territory. She’s the Strong Brewer.
