The Brewers Association has announced grants to six regional beer events as part of its push to promote and foster a diverse and inclusive craft beer community.

This grant program, which chose  from 51 applicants, continues the Brewers Association’s investment in increasing inclusivity within the craft brewing community, both with brewers and beer lovers.

This was the Boulder-based not-for-profit’s first-ever diversity and inclusion event grants… and each event will receive $20,000 in support.

And Julia Herz, the craft beer program director for the Brewers Association was all about it…

“These event organizers have truly embraced expanding to and engaging with new audiences. The Brewers Association is proud to support them, and to continue this program in future years.”

“Beer events connect people with beer and each other. Inspiring organizers to deliberately welcome a broad and diverse group of attendees is the opportunity and our goal.”

2019 Grant Recipients

Tapping Opportunity

• Organization: Great Lakes Brewing Company
• Event Location: Cleveland, OH
• Event Date: July 11, 2019
• Event Description: Tapping Opportunity is an employment fair that will convene representatives from craft breweries around Cleveland to highlight the many career opportunities available in the industry to the greater Cleveland community and provide a space for questions to be answered.

HeART and Soul Brew Fest

• Organization: Like the Fruit, LLC
• Event Location: Richmond, VA
• Event Date: July 27, 2019
• Event Description: HeART and Soul Brew Fest exposes a new audience to the local craft beer industry through urban music, urban art, craft beer, and soul food. The festival brings more than 20 black-owned restaurants and food vendors to Hardywood Park Craft Brewery.

Fresh Fest Beer Fest

• Organization: Fresh Fest Beer Fest, LLC
• Event Location: Pittsburgh, PA
• Event Date: August 9-11, 2019
• Event Description: Fresh Fest Beer Fest is the nation’s first black brew fest. The event returns for its second year with another amazing lineup of black-owned breweries as well as breweries collaborating with black artists and entrepreneurs from Pennsylvania and beyond.

Beers With(out) Beards

• Organization: Hop Culture
• Event Location: Brooklyn, NY
• Event Date: August 10, 2019
• Event Description: Beer With(out) Beards will host five unique events to cultivate conversations that elevate the position of women in the beer and brewing industry. The events will include women-led conversations, industry related skill development, and the opportunity to taste beer brewed by women or at women-owned breweries.

Suave Fest

• Organization: Raices Brewing Company
• Event Location: Denver, CO
• Event Date: September 14, 2019
• Event Description: Suave Fest is an opportunity to grow the awareness of Latino influence in the craft beer industry. The festival will focus on the pillars of family and community, giving this event broad appeal across a diverse group of attendees.

Craft Beer Employment Fair

• Organization: Mass Bay Brewing Company
• Event Location: Boston, MA
• Event Date: Fall 2019
• Event Description: This event will focus on increasing awareness of diversity and inclusion as it relates to the brewing industry. The event will present employment opportunities to a diverse population in the Boston area as well as give a platform to guest speakers to share the importance of diversity and inclusion.

Proposals for 2020 calendar year funding will be accepted beginning October 2019 and can be submitted on the Brewers Association website