Pola Galie, co-owner and brewer at Lower Forge Brewery is on a mission, and it’s one she’s been on before.
She finds herself, once again, in the process of trying to organize a New Jersey chapter of the Pink Boots Society, a national group that works to advance the careers of women and non-binary individuals in the craft fermentation industry.
They recently had a meeting at her brewery on Main Street in Medford in the hopes of rekindling the group.
“I am very encouraged,” Galie said. “Everybody was excited to get this back and going.”
Galie’s history with the group goes back to 2016, when Lower Forge first opened. She said back then she immediately joined the organization’s Philadelphia chapter, as it was the closest group, with none existing at the time in New Jersey.
Pink Boots, headquartered in Houston, Texas, has chapters all around the country and works to support diversity in the industry. They do this through seminars and classes and by providing scholarships for women and non-binary individuals working in craft beverage businesses.
After a few years of being involved through the Philadelphia chapter, Galie helped get a Jersey chapter started. But after a difference of opinions, she said she bowed out of a leadership role and became a general member.
Planning in the group soon dropped off, and she said she recently learned the organization was in danger of losing its charter.
She said she didn’t want to see that happen, partly because there were funds remaining in the chapter’s coffers that could be spent locally, but also because she felt it would be a good time to try again.
“There’s more and more women who are getting involved in what was for centuries considered a predominantly male industry,” she said. “I thought to myself, ‘let’s give it a try.’”
Galie said she’s seen firsthand the discrimination that can occur in the industry, recounting situations where she’s been ignored and dismissed.
She said the Pink Boots group is big on education and mentorship through programs funded by the organization itself or through corporate sponsorships.
Galie said she sparked interest at the chapter’s recent meeting when she told the group she’s been looking into partnering with area colleges like Stockton University to see what classes would make sense for people in the industry.
The organization initially started with a focus just on the back of house, production side of the business and specifically on the beer brewing industry.
But in recent years, Galie said, they’ve expanded to all fermentation industries – breweries, wineries, distilleries, cideries and meaderies – and to workers in all facets of the business.
She said it makes sense to expand the scope to all fermentation beverages , simply because people have varied tastes – some may like beer, others favor wine, etc. – but also because she’s personally seen crossover between the segments, with workers starting out in one beverage industry and later moving to another.
She said right now the group is focused on growing their numbers and raising money for the chapter through collection of membership dues.
The organization also raises money nationally through direct donations and fundraisers like their Collaboration Brew Day, where registered teams gather at a host location to create a special beverage that’s sold to raise money for the group’s scholarships.
“The collaboration day is kind of a party,” Galie said.
Galie said she’s excited by the potential for the group and future ideas like possible events where they partner with area restaurants, and have Pink Boots members from multiple industries bring their products for a tasting.
“Wearing my rose-colored glasses, the sky’s the limit,” she said.
The group has already scheduled their next meeting for July 22 at Armageddon Brewing, a cider and mead operation in Somerdale. Galie said that especially now as they just get started, anyone with an interest in the group is welcome to attend.