Craft Beer and the Lifelong Celebration of Pride

Brooklyn Brewery was one of my first introductions to craft beer when I moved to NYC in 1997. I lived on Havemeyer St. in WIlliamsburg  Brooklyn, fairly close to Brooklyn Brewery’s then newly opened production facility and tasting room. Their Brooklyn Lager opened my taste buds to a whole new world of beer.  Coincidentally, I then moved to the West Village in Manhattan on Christopher St. and 7th Avenue, diagonally across the street from The Stonewall Inn. I used to then frequent The Stonewall Inn and it was when I first learned of my own gay history.

This story is my personal, roundabout way of conveying that I feel a connection to Brooklyn Brewery’s The Stonewall Inn IPA, a year-round session IPA that donates to The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative. The SIGBI is a non-profit charitable organization inspired by the struggles and ideals of the LGBTQ rights movement born from the Stonewall Inn Uprising of 1969. As noted on their website, “Through awareness campaigns, educational programming, fundraising and candid public dialogue, we support grassroots organizations scattered across the country and especially those in communities where progress toward equality has been slow and the negative impact of ongoing acts of discrimination and harassment can no longer be tolerated.”

I had the chance to dig a bit deeper with Brooklyn Brewery’s US Marketing Director Mildred Lee to find out why this beer is so important to them.

Why was it so important for Brooklyn Brewery to create the Stonewall Inn IPA and support The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative?

“Brooklyn Brewery has always worked to create a more inclusive and welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ people, both in our community, and within the craft beer industry as a whole. We’ve been working with The Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative (SIGBI) since 2017, not only in the creation of our Stonewall Inn IPA, but also through other means that help raise awareness, generate funds, and work to make real change for the LGBTQ+ community. We are committed to showing up 365 days a year, and that’s why our work with SIGBI isn’t limited to one month out of the year – our individual work and partnered initiatives create impact year round, and our Stonewall Inn IPA is available for purchase year round as well.”

How does Brooklyn Brewery as a whole embody what this beer is all about? 

“Brooklyn Brewery’s home borough exists in one of the most culturally diverse parts of the country. Since we put down roots in Brooklyn, we have strived to celebrate all the differences of our community; creating spaces and products that are accessible, inclusive and respectful to all. Our work with SIGBI and the creation of Stonewall Inn IPA is an extension of that ethos on every level. We want everyone, from our internal team to the consumers who support us, to feel represented and more importantly seen and heard. That is why we launched our Create Space campaign last year, which uses our platforms to amplify the voices of the many grassroots organizations and LGBTQ+ activists that are making a difference.”

You can learn more about Brooklyn Brewery’s ‘The Stonewall  Inn IPA’ and where to buy it by visiting their website. This beer is a Lifelong Celebration of Pride! Woot!