Beer with a purpose: Bell Tower brews IPA in support of industry diversity

Beer isn't just for the boys anymore, and Bell Tower Brewing Company in Kent is working to prove it every day.

Their newest beer, Dissension, was brewed as part of an effort to encourage women in the beer business.

"I like that we're putting a concerted effort into raising the awareness around women in the industry," said Bridget Tipton, one of Bell Tower's co-founders. "And at the same time, I wish we didn't have to. I wish there wasn't a reason to have to spend time and effort talking about this — that it was, I guess, normal — that we didn't have to center women in the industry. But until it is, we're going to continue raising awareness."

For weeks, Bell Tower Brewing has been waiting to roll out its 72nd brew, concocted on March 8, International Women's Day.

On March 29, they introduced their newest beer to Kent.

Dissension was brewed as part of the annual Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day (CBD) held by the Pink Boots Society.

"In recognition of our agreement that 'women belong in all places where decisions are being made,' we are pleased to present this stunningly aromatic American IPA, brewed with purpose on International Women’s Day," Tipton wrote in an email, quoting former U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

Clocking in at 7% ABV, and 65 IBU, the beer features floral, citrus and stone fruit notes, according to Tipton.

Dissension was brewed as part of the annual Pink Boots Collaboration Brew Day (CBD) held by the Pink Boots Society.

In conjunction with the release, Bell Tower is hosting a happy hour 4-6 p.m. Thursday for the women and non-binary people of Kent's business community. The public is invited to join them for this happy hour event for $1 off beers and to "connect with others who love beer with a purpose."

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The Pink Boots Society is a national organization that "aims to assist, inspire and encourage women and non-binary individuals in the fermented/alcoholic beverage industry to advance their careers through education," according to the nonprofit's website.

Teams register for the event and brew their own beer using an exclusive hops blend from Yakima Chief Hops. Portions of the proceeds from the sale of the beer go to fund scholarships supporting the Pink Boots Society's mission of helping women and non-binary people in the industry advance their careers through professional development and education.

Bell Tower is pledging 50 cents of every pint sold to the Cleveland chapter of the Pink Boots Society in support of that mission.

Bell Tower head brewer Jennifer Hermann took point in guiding members of Bell Tower's staff — co-founder Tipton and server Jenna Morgan — in crafting the beer.

Bell Tower has been involved with other initiatives to support diversity in the brewing industry.

Last year, the Kent brewery participated Brave Noise, in a nationwide anti-harassment and discrimination initiative that sprung up around women's tales of toxicity in the craft beer world.

Breweries joining the Brave Noise initiative were given a basic recipe to use to create the beer, leaving room for a brewery to put its own twist on it. Participants also were asked to craft a policy designed to address harassment and discrimination, while donating a majority of the proceeds raised from the sale of the beer to organizations supporting the initiative's goals.

Eleven years ago, Hermann was a member of the Pink Boots Society. She recently rejoined the organization.

Hermann calculates that she was one of fewer than 500 females professionals in the brewing industry registered with the Pink Boots Society when she first joined.

By her estimate, that number has climbed to more than 5,000.

"I think that the Pink Boots Society has served its purpose as far as recognizing that the industry is not just for men," she said.

Contact reporter Derek Kreider at DKreider@Gannett.com

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Changes brewing: Bell Tower creates beer in honor of industry diversity