Marking its centennial this year, Ocean Beach Woman’s Club has something special to help its celebration along with its milestone brew.

Bill DeWitt of California Wild Ales, and Jim Millea, head brewer of OB Brewing have collaborated to craft “Making Waves Blonde,” a centennial-hops ale made especially for OBWC’s centennial anniversary. The new brew will officially be dedicated on the summer solstice from OB Brewery’s rooftop bar.

“Mark your calendars for June 21 where we will unveil this beauty as the sun goes down,” said Susan Winkie, OBWC spokesperson. “Raise a glass on the longest day of the year, a perfect day to toast the long and rich legacy of OBWC and what they have done for the community of Ocean Beach.”

Added Winkie: “Bill and Jim have been great partners of the OB Woman’s Club over the years, so the collaboration for our 100th anniversary is a natural fit. Our club tagline, ‘Making Waves Since 1924,’ made for the perfect beer name. Once released, it will be sold exclusively at OB Brewery and California Wild Ales until it’s gone.”

Winkie noted that 15.02% of all commemorative brew sales will benefit the work of the Woman’s Club Philanthropy and Social Justice Committee.

DeWitt was grateful for the opportunity to participate in helping OBWC lift a glass to toast its centennial. “We are excited to create a beer in honor of this monumental event,” noted DeWitt adding, “Making Waves Blonde isn’t just a beer; it’s a tribute to a century of community influence fostered by the Ocean Beach Women’s Club.  As a father of three little girls, I work hard to make sure my kiddos grow up in a world where their voices are not only heard but celebrated, shaping a future where gender equality is the norm, not the exception.”

Millea talked about the origin of Making Waves Blonde. “We talked about what kind of style the beer should be, and Susan liked something light, so we came up with a blonde ale,” he said. “I talked with Billy and Zack Brager, his brewer, and we discussed the recipe and put something together incorporating a hop called centennial.”

Centennial has become one of the most well-respected hop varieties since being released in 1990. Named after the centennial anniversary of Washington state, the hop is incredibly well-rounded and useful for bittering, flavor, aroma, and dry-hopping. It quickly developed the nickname Super Cascade for its vibrant citrus and soft pine characteristics.

“We bounced ideas around and we brewed it up nice about two weeks ago at OB Brewery,” added Millea. “We’ll sell it in pints and it will probably last a solid month.”

Working with other breweries to create new beers is one of craft brewing. “It’s such a cool industry because people in it are very collaborative about sharing ideas and helping each other out,” said Millea adding, “We’ve done a couple of collaborations with California Wild Ales in the past.”

Established in 1924, OBWC is one of the oldest civic and philanthropic groups in San Diego whose purpose is to give members a place to create social connections, help in the neighborhood, and empower each other to be change-makers and leaders. The club received a proclamation on Jan. 30 from the City honoring its milestone anniversary and citing the organization for its continuing public service and community advocacy.

OBWC sponsors events throughout the year, like its hat and ping-pong contests, and solicits donations to raise funds for philanthropic giving. In 2023, members of the club nominated five community-based organizations that received awards of $1,500 each for their outstanding work in serving Ocean Beach.