The Pink Boots Society began in 2007, thanks to founder, Teri Fahrendorf, and one incredible road trip. After 19 years as a brewmaster, Teri hit the road on a 139-day cross-country brewing adventure. Along the way, she met dozens of women brewers - many of whom had never met another woman in the industry before. Realising how isolated many felt, she started keeping a list of their names and called it The Pink Boots Society - inspired by the pink boots she wore on her journey, a gift from her mother-in-law.
In 2008, Teri gathered the women from that list for a luncheon, where they decided to officially form an organisation dedicated to supporting women in beer. From there, the idea grew - uniting women and non-binary professionals across the fermented beverage world.
PINK BOOTS SOCIETY AUSTRALIA CHAPTER
Pink Boots Society Australia was founded in 2012 and today we’re part of a global network of chapters across the US, Belgium, France, Great Britain, Brazil, Canada, Slovenia, and New Zealand.
Together, we’ve built a community that empowers, educates, and celebrates women and non-binary people in every corner of the fermentation industry.
Some photos from early on:
WHY YOU SHOULD JOIN
Scholarships
Pink Boots offers scholarships to support you in advancing your education and career. Each year approx. $25k is granted across scholarships, in person convention attendance and online.
In 2025 we offered scholarships to attend the IBD Convention in Hobart and the WABA Conference in Fremantle, including supporting members with travel. In 2026, following the successful ‘Full Colour Life’-Workshops, Pink Boots will be offering a member two mentoring sessions with Jayne Lewis.
Australian Pink Boots members are eligible to apply for US scholarships, so make sure to check them out on the US Pinks Boots website here.
PATHWAY TO JUDGING
The Pathway to Judging program helps women and non-binary members build the skills and confidence to become qualified beer judges through sensory training and mentoring from industry professionals.
So far, we’ve supported over 30 Pink Boots Society members to take part as Associate Judges - many of whom have since become full judges. We’re passionate about maintaining the integrity of beer awards and ensuring judges can provide valuable, informed feedback to brewers. This program gives our members the tools, knowledge, and confidence to do just that.
MENTORING
In 2025, Pink Boots Society Australia partnered with Full Colour Life to launch a national mentoring program connecting women and non-binary professionals with industry leaders across brewing, cider, wine, and beyond. The six-month program supports career growth, leadership development, and meaningful connections - empowering the next generation of fermentation industry leaders.
NETWORKING & EDUCATION
Pink Boots Society connects members through fun and educational experiences - from hop farm tours and sensory sessions to trivia nights and more. Our events are all about learning, sharing knowledge, and building meaningful connections across the fermentation industry.
BREW DAYS
Collaboration brew days continue to be at the heart of what Pink Boots Society Australia does - bringing together women and non-binary people across the fermentation industry to learn, connect, and create.
In 2025 we have hosted 5 collaboration brew days across the country, with more in the works thanks to the generosity of our brewery partners. Each brew day is an opportunity for members to get hands-on experience, share knowledge, and build stronger industry networks. Our annual brew days are some of our biggest social events for the year in each state, providing invaluable education and networking opportunities. They are also vital to our fundraising for scholarships to benefit our Pink Boots members.