Couch, Abjuration breweries, First Sip Brew Box team to create beer, awareness for social injustices
A few local breweries are crafting a beer for justice.
Couch Brewery in East Liberty, Abjuration Brewing in McKees Rocks and Pittsburgh’s First Sip Brew Box are teaming on a brew for the Black is Beautiful campaign.
The effort aims to raise awareness for the injustices people of color face, raise money for police brutality reform and legal defense.
The beer’s base recipe was created by Weathered Souls Brewing Co. in San Antonio, Texas.
More than 1,000 breweries in 50 states and 20 countries are taking part. Additional local breweries taking part in this campaign are 11th Hour Brewing and Cinderlands Beer Co. in Lawrenceville, Butler Brew Works in Butler, Burgh’ers Brewing in Lawrenceville, East End Brewing Co., in Larimer, Hop Farm Brewing in Lawrenceville, Union Brothers Brewing in Harmony, Noble Stein Brewing Company in Indiana, Hitchhiker Brewing Co. in Sharpsburg, and Inner Groove Brewing in Verona. Each is choosing a different organization to benefit and make a difference regarding social injustice/systemic racism.
Dennis Guy of the West End is co-owner of First Sip Brew Box, with wife Sammie. The business is a craft beer media company that connects enthusiasts with collaborating breweries, via a monthly subscription or one-time gift box.
Guy spearheaded the beer-making collaboration via email, Zoom calls, social media content, video content and The Daily Sip Podcast.
His company was one of the first in the Pittsburgh craft beer scene to speak out about racial inequality at a national level and his own experiences with racism.
“We faced a tough decision as a small business. Do we speak out and potentially lose customers — or stay silent as the status quo dictates?” he said. “My wife Sammie and I came to the conclusion we can afford to lose customers, but we can never lose ourselves and who we are as people. So when the opportunity to work with two fantastic breweries that have always made us feel welcome in their brewery wanted to collab, we were more than happy to facilitate and be a part of this.”
Another photo from our Black is Beautiful Brew day! We are looking forward to canning next and hopefully soon for all of you to enjoy this beer and beautiful movement happening across the country Cheers ? #firstsipbrewbox #yourbeergearishere #blackowned #veteranowned #womanowned pic.twitter.com/q5A4IkmXRG
— Firstsipbrewbox (@firstsipbrewbox) July 23, 2020
On July 12 at Couch Brewery, the recipe for the Black is Beautiful campaign was made with grains donated from Deer Creek Malthouse in Glen Mills.
Mark Brault, founder and owner of Deer Creek Malthouse, said this is his fourth donation for a Black is Beautiful beer. He said maybe the conversations held while drinking the Black is Beautiful beers can help create change.
“It is such a crazy time that anything we can do to help we will,” Brault said. “The Black is Beautiful campaign is bringing awareness to the inequality that still exists in America, even in the brewing industry, which is predominantly white, male owned.”
Bobby Nacho, a brewer at Couch, worked on the stout with notes of chocolate and orange.
“Nothing beats drinking what you brewed and seeing other people enjoying it,” said Nacho, who was in the brewery with Darren Gailey, co-owner with Cary Shaffer, who is the head brewer there.
Tom Glover, co-owner at Abjuration Brewing with Dave Hallam, and Guy were also involved in making the beer.
The grains were brought to a boil, then cooled to 68 degrees and allowed to ferment for 14-20 days. It is expected to be available at Couch Brewery and Abjuration Brewing by Aug. 8.
They plan to make more if it’s successful.
Glover said he wanted to be part of this but Abjuration Brewing doesn’t have the capacity to make a large amount of beer at one time. He said it is also fun to go to other breweries and watch their process.
“Everyone needs a day off to enjoy a beer, even if you work from home,” said Glover. “And this beer is about helping people. We didn’t want to sit around and do nothing, so we are doing this.”
The three entities agreed immediately to do this, said Gailey of Couch Brewery.
“It is a very important subject to me of how people of color are treated,” Gailey said. “This is an important cause, and we want to help any way we can. We have a substantial African American clientele. They are our friends.”
Proceeds from the Couch, Abjuration and First Sip Brew Box beer will be donated to The Bloomfield-Garfield Corp., a nonprofit whose mission is to “improve the quality of life for all in Garfield and surrounding neighborhoods through active community engagement.”
The organization has a year-round youth initiative called the College and Career Readiness Program to work with high school juniors and seniors mostly from the city high schools University Prep, Westinghouse, Obama and Allderdice to help them stay on track to graduate, develop a plan for after-graduation and assist them with applications.
“We are happy to help,” he said. “We need a lot of people behind this, and we can help so that’s why we are helping. We need change this because it is a problem in society.”
JoAnne Klimovich Harrop is a TribLive reporter covering the region's diverse culinary scene and unique homes. She writes features about interesting people. The Edward R. Murrow award-winning journalist began her career as a sports reporter. She has been with the Trib for 26 years and is the author of "A Daughter's Promise." She can be reached at jharrop@triblive.com.
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