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    Where to Find Black Is Beautiful Beers in Los Angeles

    Emily Krauser Last updated Dec 13, 2020

    Beer has been giving back lately.

    First, there was the Resilience Butte County Proud IPA, the 2018 beer Sierra Nevada created to raise money for the Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Relief Fund, which ended up raising millions of dollars to help victims of the deadly Northern California fire that blazed the previous November. Then there was this summer’s All Together, Other Half’s IPA to support hospitality professionals amid the coronavirus pandemic, with a recipe that other breweries could use to create their own hazy or West Coast versions and donate part of the proceeds to the local charity of their choice, as long as it supported the bar and restaurant community.

    Now, Black Is Beautiful is the latest beer being brewed for an important cause: to raise awareness to help fight the injustices faced by people of color on a daily basis and raise funds for police reform and legal defense funds. The project was created by Marcus Baskerville, the founder and head brewer of Weathered Souls Brewing in San Antonio, Texas, who decided on a high ABV stout to showcase different shades of black.

    Brewers are encouraged to put their own spins on Baskerville’s open-source recipe, which helps drive the metaphor home, and it’s a truly delicious way to take a stand and show support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

    The main goal is to raise awareness. Baskerville felt it was important to use his platform, especially as a Black business owner in an industry that has largely ignored or minimized people of color. “I was dealing with some of the frustrations that were going on with murders,” he told Forbes of what helped push him to create a collaborative beer. “Breonna Taylor, George Floyd. All of these situations that keep arising.”

    More than 1,000 breweries in all 50 states, as well as 20 countries, have opted into the project, with 123 of them right here in California. While Weather Souls is raising money for Colin Kaepernick’s organization Know Your Rights Camp, each individual brewery is encouraged to choose a non-profit or cause of their choice, and Los Angeles County breweries are doing just that.

    Hopped LA has all the info on which of our local breweries are making Black Is Beautiful, how they’ve tweaked the recipe, and what cause they’re donating to. In addition to those on the map, Crowns and Hops has put out a version that will benefit Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and the Anti Police-Terror Project (their taproom isn’t open yet), and a number of homebrewers have made versions as well.

    Here’s to sippin’ on good beer for a good cause!

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    Ambitious Ales

    ABV: 11%

    Their Version: An Imperial Stout aged one year in bourbon barrels. Thick, rich and bold with nuances of oaky vanilla and bitter dark chocolate.

    Cause: 100% of the profits will be donated to the Okra Project, a collective that seeks to address the global crisis faced by Black transgender people through home-cooked, healthy, and culturally specific meals and resources.

    Released: July 22

    Availability: $10/16 oz. can

    Ambitious Ales

    Venue

    Ambitious Ales

    Brewery

    4019 Atlantic Ave, Long Beach, CA 90807

    Ambitious Ales is a new 10-barrel brewery located in Long Beach's Bixby Knolls neighborhood...

    Brouwerij West

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: Imperial Stout

    Cause: 100% of the profits will be donated to Know Your Rights Camp and the National Black Food and Justice Alliance.

    Released: July 15

    Availability: 16 oz. cans and 32 oz. crowlers

    Brouwerij West

    Venue

    Brouwerij West

    Brewery

    110 E 22nd St, San Pedro, CA 90731

    Brouwerij West produces a wide array of classic Belgian style beers alongside some of...

    Angel City Brewery

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: A rich, moderately sweet stout with notes of dark chocolate and a roasty finish.

    Cause: Proceeds will be donated to the NAACP.

    Released: July 23

    Availability: $14/6-pack

    Common Space Brewery

    ABV: 7%

    Their Version: A smooth, roasty, chocolatey stout.

    Cause: not known

    Released: July 30

    Availability: $16/4-pack

    Firestone Walker Propagator

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: An Imperial Stout consisting of a blend of Woodford Reserve-aged Parabola (30%), Heaven Hill-aged Velvet Merkin (15%), and a fresh imperial stout brewed at the Propagator (55%).

    Cause: A donation will be made to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

    Released: July 24

    Availability: $19.99/4-pack

    Frogtown Brewery

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: An Imperial Stout on Madagascar Vanilla Beans and Cacao with notes of roasted chocolate and caramel.

    Cause: 100% of proceeds will be donated to Black Lives Matter LA and Know Your Rights Camp.

    Released: August 24

    Availability: $20/4-pack

    Frogtown Brewery

    Venue

    Frogtown Brewery

    Brewery

    2931 Gilroy St, Los Angeles, CA 90039

    Frogtown Brewery is a small brewery located right along the LA River in Frogtown...

    Highland Park Brewery

    ABV: 10.5%

    Their Version: Imperial stout that features coconut, cacao nibs, & chilis.

    Cause: 100% of proceeds will be donated to ACLU of Southern California.

    Released: September 18

    Availability: $18/bottle

    Indie Brewing Co

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version:  An Imperial Stout brewed in collaboration with @beersagogo.

    Cause: All proceeds Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Action Bail Fund.

    Released: Aug. 7

    Availability: $22/4-pack

    Liberation Brewing Co

    ABV: 8%

    Their Version: Smooth 8% Imperial Stout with notes of Baker’s chocolate, deep dark fruit, toasty bread crust, and a lingering finish.

    Cause: Proceeds will be donated to Black Lives Matter Long Beach.

    Released: July 30

    Availability: $14/32oz crowler

    Lincoln Beer Company

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: Imperial Stout with aromas of dark berry and chocolate and tastes of blonde coffee and more chocolate.

    Cause: 100% of proceeds will go to the Los Angeles Urban League.

    Released: August 30

    Availability: $12/25oz shorty crowler

    Long Beach Beer Lab

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: A decadent and smooth fudgy Imperial Stout.

    Cause: Proceeds will be donated to the Long Beach Gray Panthers and the CA Conference for Equality and Justice (CCEJ).

    Released: July 12

    Availability: $8.99/16 oz. can

    Venue

    Long Beach Beer Lab

    Brewery

    L.B.B.L. is a small brewery and bakery in Long Beach, CA dedicated to curiously...

    Los Angeles Ale Works

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: Imperial Stout w/Coconut and Cacao

    Cause: Proceeds will be donated on a national level to Equal Justice Initiative and on a local level to Centinela Youth Services.

    Released: July 10

    Availability: Crowler-only at their taproom, but 4-packs still available at select beer retailers.

    Monkish Brewing Co

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: Imperial Stout

    Cause: 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the NAACP Legal Defense Fund.

    Released: July 3

    Availability: Sold Out

    Mumford Brewing Co

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: Imperial Stout brewed with coffee and cacao.

    Cause: Proceeds will be donated to ACLU of Southern California.

    Released: June 30

    Availability: $20/4-pack

    Ogopogo Brewing Co

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: Pastry Stout with Ugandan and Mexican Vanilla beans, Heart Roasters Ethiopia Gedeb coffee, and cinnamon.

    Cause: All proceeds will be donated to Color of Change.

    Released: July 15

    Availability: $24/4-pack

    ogopogo brewing

    Ogopogo Brewing

    Venue

    Ogopogo Brewing

    Brewery

    864 Commercial Ave., San Gabriel, CA 91776

    Ogopogo Brewing is a small craft brewery in San Gabriel featuring a solid lineup...

    Sage Vegan Bistro & Brewery

    ABV: N/A

    Their Version: N/A

    Cause: N/A

    Released: Late August

    Availability: N/A

    Santa Monica Brew Works

    Coming Soon

    Smog City Brewing Co

    ABV: 7%

    Their Version: Stout with notes of chocolate and sweet roasted malt and a smooth, delicate finish.

    Cause: Donations will be made to Black Lives Matter Los Angeles and the People’s City Council.

    Released: July 8

    Availability: $16/4-pack

    Timeless Pints Brewing Co

    ABV: 8.2%

    Their Version: Imperial Stout

    Cause: All proceeds will be donated to California Center for Equality and Justice.

    Released: July 30

    Availability: $8/can

    Trademark Brewing

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: Robust Coffee Imperial Stout

    Cause: Black Lives Matter Long Beach and Know Your Rights Camp

    Released: August 29

    Availability: $16.99/4-pack

    Trademark Brewing

    Venue

    Trademark Brewing

    Brewery

    233 E Anaheim St, Long Beach, CA 90813

    Trademark Brewing is a big new brewery and taproom located in Long Beach, specializing...

    Trustworthy Brewing Co

    ABV: 10%

    Their Version: Imperial Stout

    Cause: Proceeds will be donated to the ACLU of Southern California.

    Released: August 28

    Availability: $20/4-pack

    Twisted Oak Tavern

    Scheduled for release in late August.

    Cause: Motivate the Future, a motivational assembly program that focuses on inspiring children and encouraging young people to speak out against bullying at school.

    Get More Info

    For more on the Black Is Beautiful project and to find out which other breweries are participating in it, click here.

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