Girls Pint Out IPA Collaboration at Borderlands

By Stoney Xochi

Since early 2010 Girls Pint Out has been working to create a community of women who love craft beer. Hailing from Indianapolis, Indiana, Girls Pint Out quickly spread and now has over 100 chapters in 40 states. Co-founder Victoria Parridgen recalls meeting other women online who were involved in the group, and saw a need for one in Tucson. Having recently befriended Sarah Ritchie, the pair decided to start the Tucson chapter of Girls Pint Out in 2013. Sarah has since moved, leaving Victoria to run the show.

“We try to do a couple events a month.” she tells us “We try to do at least one girls only event and then one social event where guys can come too. We do brewery tours, we have classes, all sorts of fun stuff. Brew days are my favorite. We brew an anniversary beer every year with a local brewery, they’re definitely my favorite event. We’ve done some fundraisers, those are always a lot of fun too.” Girls Pint Out is non-profit organization, which means proceeds from their events go to local charities. Tap & Bottle in downtown Tucson will be throwing a luau themed release party October 22nd complete with BBQ from Mama’s Hawaiian Bar-B-Que.

The Tucson chapter of Girls Pint Out has done collaboration brews with Barrio, Dragoon, 1055 and most recently Borderlands. At this year’s Born & Brewed Beer Battle Borderlands took home both People’s Choice Award for their Toole Avenue IPA and German Chocolate Cake Porter. The Classy Alcoholic also named Borderlands Arizona’s Best Microbrewery (up to this point) in 2015.

Borderlands Brewing Company, located in Tucson’s Warehouse Arts District, resides in the former home of Tooley & Sons Produce Company. A brick building that dates back to the early 1900’s holds both the brewhouse and the tasting area. Utilizing the work of Mobile West Canning Borderlands is able to can and distribute some of our favorite southwestern style beers. While always focusing on sustainable practices, from energy use to water consumption, there is also a strong sense of community values within the company.

Adam Ledford, partner and general manager, tells us about thier love for the locals; “from a community standpoint I think we were all drawn here for very similar reasons. We all have a strong sense of philanthropy and we are passionate about being of the community rather than just in the community. Tucson is a special place and it thrives because it’s an interconnected network of local business who all support each other. And the people who live here who support all these local businesses.” Spent grains leftover from the brewing process are given to local farmers free of charge, and Borderlands always makes their space available to local artists and musicians.

Landon Swanson, the man behind the beer at Borderlands, led the Girls Pint Out team in the brewing of a New England style Piña Colada IPA. The experience level varied throughout the group, but each step in the brewing process was reviewed. The women had the opportunity to be hands on as they wanted. Fostering a space within the craft beer community for women is the goal of Girls Pint Out, and clearly Borderlands shares those same values. Kindness is a Tucson way of life, and I sure did feel a lot of it during this collaboration brew. I’m excited to see how these two continue to grow and build the community.

 

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Eric Walters
I love beer. Specifically Arizona craft beer. Oh yea, my family is pretty awesome too. An amazing wife and 2 awesome little girls make my life great. And did I mention beer?



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