Last week, Oregon Fruit had the pleasure of hosting six incredible women from across North America as part of the Country Malt Group (CMG) Pink Boots Malt Scholarship experience. This unique opportunity brought together a dynamic group of brewers to explore, learn, and be inspired by the diverse applications of fruit in brewing and beyond.
From the moment they arrived, scholarship recipients dove into the world of Oregon Fruit’s purees. Tasting their way through our aseptic lineup, they discovered new ways brewers and beverage makers are incorporating fruit into their creations. Innovation in the industry and recipes was a recurring theme throughout the visit.
The experience kicked off with a Thursday evening happy hour at Wayfinder Beer, where all scholarship winners gathered alongside a group of Oregon’s female brewers. The atmosphere buzzed with conversations about craft beer, the evolving industry, and the increasing presence and influence of women in brewing. In what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry, women are infusing creativity into this industry, driving both innovation and engagement in the craft beverage space.
On Friday, the group took a deep dive into Oregon Fruit’s operations. OFC’s own Cicerone, Chris Hodge, led a comprehensive presentation and plant tour, which ran for an engaging 2.5 hours. The brewers walked away energized and inspired by the craftsmanship and quality behind the fruit purees they use in their own brewing processes.
One of the most exciting aspects of the visit was the exchange of creative brewing ideas. Each participant shared a special project, showcasing their unique approach to innovation. For example, Rach Young from Stanley Park Brewing brought her Invasive Species Dark Lager to share. which features OFC’s blackberry puree as well as Burdock Root. From mushroom-infused beers to new fruit-infused creations, the passion for pushing brewing boundaries was evident.
Perhaps the most eye-opening takeaway was the realization of just how vast the fruit-in-craft-beverage category has become. Hailey Thrash-Nelson, Marketing Creative Manager at Country Malt Group, said the biggest surprise from the presentation was ” seeing the rise of Oregon Fruit products in non-alcoholic drinks— including some from our favorite coffee shops!” This trend underscores the versatility of fruit purees and their potential beyond traditional brewing applications. While many of the brewers came in with a focus on traditional beer applications, they left with a broadened understanding of how fruit is shaping trends across multiple beverage categories. The insights gained from this visit will undoubtedly influence their brewing and craft beverage journeys moving forward.
The learning and inspiration didn’t stop at Oregon Fruit. On Saturday, several participants and Oregon Fruit employees attended the 10th annual SheBrew Brew Festival, an event dedicated to celebrating women in brewing. Bryan Martz, Oregon Fruit’s Sales Manager, reflected on the experience: “It was super cool to see a diverse audience of beer drinkers, and I think one of the unique parts of SheBrew is the welcoming, inviting nature of it. The homebrew portion of the event allows women homebrewers to share their creations in a unique setting.”
This year’s homebrew competition winner was Alyssa Reget for her Pink Pony Sour, which drew the longest line of the entire event—stretching across the room in a way that would have made Chappell Roan proud. Bryan also noted some of the standout beverages of the event: “The most unique beer I had was Pixie Rocker, a Mushroom Gose from Sara Szymanski at Threshold Brewing. The ladies at Straightaway Cocktails had an outstanding Citrus and Silk Spritz. I enjoyed the Ginger Peach Wit from Pfriem,” made with OFC’s own peach puree.
Angela Lu, Oregon Fruit’s resident R&D Food Scientist, was particularly excited by the innovation on display at SheBrew. “My favorite part of the event was the brewers who showed off innovative brews that might not typically sell well but were delicious and enjoyed by everyone—ingredient pairings or styles of brewing used in ways that were extremely interesting and tasty,” she shared. The festival was a perfect culmination of the scholarship experience, reinforcing the spirit of creativity and collaboration that drives the craft brewing community forward.
The Pink Boots Malt Scholarship is an invaluable program that fosters education, collaboration, and growth among women in the brewing industry. Oregon Fruit is honored to have been a part of this experience designed by Country Malt Group, providing inspiration and new perspectives to the next generation of brewing innovators. We look forward to seeing how these talented women incorporate their learnings into their craft and continue to shape the future of brewing.
Stay tuned for more updates on industry trends, brewing innovations, and the exciting ways Oregon Fruit continues to support beverage makers across North America!
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