Adelaide Crows star and Mix 102.3 breakfast host Erin Phillips collaborates with Pirate Life for her own ale

From footy to radio, now brewing and pulling a beer, Erin Phillips has the perfect recipe for success ahead of International Women’s Day

Erin Phillips perfectly pours her collaboration with Pirate Life – Strong Blonde – at The District at SkyCity. Picture: MIKE BURTON

Erin Phillips has been pulling beers since she was about five years old.

Growing up in her dad Greg’s pubs, she and her sisters – Rachel and Amy – learnt how to perfect the pour.

And the MIX 102.3 breakfast radio host hasn’t lost her touch as she fills pint glasses at The District at SkyCity with her own specially brewed beer.

Strong Blonde – developed in conjunction with Pirate Life and The District at SkyCity – with its hint of lime and pomegranate is available as a strictly limited release from today.

Phillips worked closely with Pirate Life’s Charlene Du Toit and Briony Nicholls to capture the unique flavour and strawberry blonde colour.

Brewed with a selection of premium pale malts, this beer has been gently hopped with New Zealand varieties Riwaka and Wai-iti. Expect aromas of lime leaf and lemon sponge cake. On the palate, zesty pomegranate pairs with notes lime cordial.

Erin Phillips dives for a low ball during the round three AFLW match between her Adelaide Crows and Fremantle Dockers at Norwood Oval. Picture: Mark Brake

Erin Phillips' parents Greg and Julie. Picture: Sam Wundke

The Adelaide Crows star laughs as she says her Port Adelaide legend father might have a few more footy premierships than she (he has eight, she has two), but he doesn’t have his own beer.

“The only he might try and claim is Pirate Life did a limited edition Port Adelaide brew,” Phillips says. “But I think this might just trump that.”

Released just ahead of International Women’s Day, on Monday, the 35-year-old says she hopes people celebrate the inspirational females in their life every day.

“It’s a great day to remind us to celebrate women,” she said. “It’s important to remember the strong women and the role models in our lives.

“It’s about giving women the belief and the empowerment that they are an important and integral part of our community.”

Naming the most inspirational women in her life is easy – her mum Julie and her wife Tracy.

“I grew up with two sisters. Dad was surrounded by girls, he embraced us and gave us confidence to be what we wanted to be,” Phillips says.

“My mum’s like this mythical creature. She’s never really in the spotlight and doesn’t really like the attention but she was the massive driving force.

“Dad gets a lot of the credit for the sporting side but my mum really raised us to be strong, make good choices and to be decent human beings.”

Erin Phillips with wife Tracy and kids, Brooklyn 4, Drew 18 months, Blake 4. Picture: Roy Vandervegt

Erin Phillips with her MIX102.3 breakfast radio host Mark “Soda” Soderstrom

While wife Tracy, who she’s just celebrated seven years of marriage with, does all the hard yards.

“She’s got three kids to get ready each morning,” Phillips says. “I’ve only got one kid to wrangle .. (co-host) Soda.”

Phillips has almost notched up two months in the demanding brekkie radio role, balancing her AFLW and family commitments.

“Soda’s awesome – with those early mornings you’ve really got to like the person you work with,” she says.

“His energy is great which is helpful because it can be like waking up anaesthetic at 4am in the morning.”