A round-up of June 2020 beer releases and events
by Jeannine Boisse for Equity Brewing Company
We are witness to extraordinary times. We see across the nation, over all social-media channels, directly in our homes, and even in our favorite taprooms: acceptance, equality, love, compassion, empathy, PRIDE. 2020 has proven to be unfamiliar, often terrifying, a gloomy and painful year, topped off with high levels of unprecedented hopefulness. Learning and unlearning, doing the work, and allyship have become familiar in our shared lingo describing the events of the past several months. No doubt about it, it’s been a rollercoaster of energy and emotion this year and we’re just about halfway through it.
As uncertain as future months may look, we can’t rush through without observing the revelry of Pride. Representative of fortitude in the LGBTQ+ community, June is proclaimed as Global Pride Month. For the craft beer industry, it’s a reminder to celebrate diversity and build on creating a welcoming community for all to enjoy.
Pride Is Not Cancelled
We may not be completely used to all the pandemic-era changes being made to live events, it’s sure to take some time in that respect. Although many regions are easing up on dine-in beer service, some of us may still be cautious to belly up at the taprooms and breweries. Luckily for us, we have the option of ordering in, opting for curbside pick-up, and partaking in virtual festivities to commemorate Pride in 2020.
Continue the Pride tradition at home by virtually attending any of the following world-famous events:
San Francisco Pride - June 27 & 28. Headlined by the Queen of Bounce, Big Freedia.
Los Angeles Pride - June 27. Commemorating the 50th Anniversary of LA Pride.
NYC Pride - June 28. Grand Marshal is none other than Schitt’s Creek star, Dan Levy.
NYC Virtual Rally - June 26 5-8pm ET. Register to participate.
NYC Black Queer Town Hall - June 19-21. Hosted by esteemed drag queens, Peppermint and Bob the Drag Queen!
Honor and contribute to black queer excellence via Gofundme.
Global Pride - June 27. Todrick Hall hosts this 24-hour livestream of entertainment.
How Craft Beer Is Showing Up For the LGBTQ+ Community
Pride events may look different this year but the mission and dedication to the cause is still evident in the beer being produced. Let’s not get it twisted, we cannot simply throw a rainbow on the packaging and call it a day. The beer community is proving its commitment to connection and collaboration, bridging beer with groups that provide critical support to LGBTQ+ people.
Take a look at the list we’ve compiled as a prime example of how American craft breweries are celebrating Pride while advocating for local resources, national organizations, and postponed event creators, all aimed to serve LGBTQ+ communities.
Deschutes Brewery Portland, BUBBLES & BRUNCH BEERLINI PEACH LAGER, Portland OR - Deschutes staff are paving the way in craft beer, forming the Q Committee of internal LGBTQIA+ staff. The brainchild of the Q Committee, this special release brunch-inspired beer will benefit the SMYRC - Sexual and Gender Minority Youth Resource Center in PDX.
Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co, ARIZONA PRIDE IPA, Gilbert, AZ - 100% of the proceeds of Arizona Pride IPA will go to ACLU, according to their Instagram. Shipping locally in Gilbert, Arizona.
Urban Roots, GUYS, GALS and NON-BINARY PALS UNFILTERED PALE ALE, Sacramento, CA - Donations for this brew, honoring the many colors of the rainbow, will be made to Sacramento LGBT Center.
Almanac Beer, LOVE HAZY IPA, San Francisco, CA - Rainbow cans filled with love to support the Oakland LGBTQ center.
Local Brewing Company, GAY BEACH TROPICAL BLONDE, San Francisco, CA - An annual treat featuring beautifully designed cans by local artists plus partial proceeds donated to event-promoting hub Do The Gay and the SF LGBT Center.
Threes Brewing, GENDER NEUTRAL PALE LAGER WITH LEMON ZEST, Brooklyn, NY - Perfect for summer, 10% of proceeds will go to a historic charity organization. The Anti-Violence Project, a NYC-based org that works with LGBTQ+ and HIV-affected communities - in their 40th year serving counseling, legal services, and education.
Sloop Brewing Co, PIXIE DUST NEIPA, Hopewell Junction, NY - Partial proceeds of this special release hazy will benefit the cancelled Pride celebrations of 2020. Organizations benefiting: NYC Pride, Newburgh LGBTQ+ Center, Dutchess Pride.
Bone Up Brewing, GET PROUD AND GET LOUD HOPPY SAISON, Everett, MA - Bone Up is pairing their beer release with locally-printed and produced merch with a portion of proceeds going to BAGLY, a youth-focused organization committed to social justice and LGBTQ+ youth programs.
Anthem Brewing, Oklahoma City, OK - Cheers to Charity, donating portions of all weekend sales to a variety of organizations supporting BLM and OKC Pride.
Brooklyn Brewery, THE STONEWALL INN SESSION IPA, Brooklyn, NY- A low-calorie, sessionable IPA honoring the roots of gay liberation at The Stonewall Inn Uprising in Manhattan in 1969. Brooklyn Brewery proudly partners with The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI).
Get Involved
The silver lining on a tough year is that we have the ability to optimize technology in order to connect with a wide audience of like-minded people. Utilizing social media to connect beer drinkers is the basis of the Untappd app, where you can check-in and share the beers you enjoy and earn flashy badges of drinking honor. In virtually celebrating diversity in beer, the Untappd Pride Badge is now available through July 12th, 2020.
LGBTQ+ folx exist outside of Global Pride Month and deserve a place in craft beer as much as any beer drinker or maker. Keep celebrating diversity beyond June and amplify voices in the LGBTQ+ community. Stay involved, contribute to breweries backing a charitable mission, donate if you can, and drink more beer!
Resources for learning:
Do you know Dr. J? J Nikol Jackson-Beckham, Ph.D. or “Dr. J” serves the Brewer’s Association as the first Diversity Ambassador. Visit Craft Beer For All for a wealth of resources for learning about diversifying beer and connecting people.
The ACLU Shop has your Pride Merch with a purpose: protecting every single American’s civil liberties.
Beer. Diversity. Ren Navarro is initiating change in the industry by discussing diversity in a way that’s accessible to all. Catch “Whatcha Drinking” on IG Live @beer_diversity and keep the conversation going.
