The death of George Floyd in May at the hands of the Minneapolis Police sparked a national outcry that ignited potentially the largest protest movement in the history of the United States. Millions have gathered to fight against systemic racism in policing, politics and culture at large and make it known that Black Lives Matter.
Black-owned businesses are an important part of this push for change. One such company is Weathered Souls Brewing Co., a Black-owned brewery based out of San Antonio, Texas, which has invited brewers nationwide to participate in its awareness-raising Black is Beautiful campaign.
They’ve shared their base imperial stout recipe and encouraged brewers across the country to give it their own unique spin. They’ve also provided free Black is Beautiful label artwork from KD Design, with space for individual logos. The program aims to foster inclusion and raise awareness of social and racial injustice through collaboration with other U.S. craft breweries.
“I’m a Black business owner and someone who has experienced police abuse,” Weathered Souls founder and head brewer Marcus Baskerville told CityBeat‘s sister paper, the San Antonio Current. “This experience happened in my early 20s, but that stuff lingers with you. Interactions with law enforcement change after an experience like that.”
Baskerville felt starting with his business was the best way he could participate in the movement’s call for change.
“The brewing industry is pretty eclectic, with all kinds of different people in it,” he said. “Why wouldn’t this community be one to join together to support a message of equality and purpose to support the concept of general respect for everybody?”
Imperial stout — among the most popular styles with U.S. craft brewers — is characterized by a high alcohol content, usually over 9%, and a color palette that ranges from chocolate brown to almost black. Its color and flavor possibilities led Baskerville to select the style for the collaboration.
Since the announcement of the campaign earlier this summer, Weathered Souls has gotten support from over 900 breweries across the country who have committed to selling the stout, five of which can be found here in Cincinnati:
- Rhinegeist Brewery
- Listermann Brewing Company
- Samuel Adams Cincinnati Taproom
- Northern Row Brewery & Distillery
- and Streetside Brewery.
But the campaign is more than just a way to sell beer.
Weathered Souls has asked participating breweries to donate 100% of the beer’s proceeds to local foundations that support police reform and legal defense for victims of police brutality. The San Antonio brewery has also asked participating brewers to donate to organizations that support equality and inclusion.
“We wanted to participate because it’s not often we get to speak through the beer we make,” said Garrett Hickey, managing brewer and owner of Streetside Brewery. “Showing that we are allies and support equality for all was exceptionally important to me and our staff and this was the best way we could do it.”
Streetside released a first run of their Black is Beautiful stout in early July. Hickey says a limited supply of cans is available at Streetside, with more coming in August.
Streetside joined 928 breweries in 50 states and 15 different countries to brew the Black is Beautiful initiative. This collaborative effort amongst the brewing community and its customers, is an attempt to bring awareness to the injustices that many people of color face daily. pic.twitter.com/iRqnbVss0V
— Streetside Brewery (@streetsidebrew) July 2, 2020
Northern Row Brewery & Distillery has tapped their Black is Beautiful beer and will soon be distributing it at events throughout the city.
“(The beer) reflects the way we can all pull together and build our community through beer and conversations,” says Northern Row owner David Berger. “The proceeds from this beer will all go to a local charity that benefits all in our community.”
On July 9, Listermann released their Black is Beautiful collaboration, calling it “a step back from the ABV, in the hope of being a more sessionable experience, with generous additions of chocolate and vanilla layered in throughout the process.” Donations from their brew will benefit Cincinnati’s Elementz, “an urban oasis of hope and a catalyst of change for Cincinnati’s inner-city youth.”
Rhinegeist and Sam Adams have yet to announce release dates for their take on the stout.
You can find a full list of participating breweries and more information at blackisbeautiful.beer.
This article appears in The Summer Guide.
