Hickenlooper Joined By Craft Beer Players In New Campaign Ad

In spite of (and maybe because of) American Craft Beer’s ringing endorsement, presidential hopeful John Hickenlooper is having trouble getting national traction and some of the nation’s most noted brewers have lent their voices to his effort…

Here’s the deal…

It’s no secret that Colorado’s ex-Governor John Hickenlooper is not the first candidate that comes to mind from this current stable of presidential hopefuls.

And now Westword is reporting that although “he’ll be on the stage for the next pair of Democratic debates at the end of July, he’s in danger of being shut out of the round in September,” unless more people start contributing to his campaign.

So Hickenlooper turned to his buddy Marty Jones, a marketing specialist whose friendship goes back to his Wynkoop Brewery days to tap into his craft beer roots.And they came up with a campaign video that’s terrific fun.

Jones solicited the help of some prominent craft beer figures including Stone Brewing’s Greg Koch, Left Hand Brewing’s Eric Wallace, Rick Werner of Brewery Finance, Island to Island’s Danni Oliver and others to create “the first political ad ever that includes the words Lambic Gose.”

Jones shared with American Craft Beer that Hickenlooper has a long history of using humor in his campaigns and has never done an attack ad….

“The concept of so-called competitors working together for the common good, that’s been a cornerstone of craft beer from the start. John was one of the first practitioners of that MO, and it has been vital to his great success as a brewer and as a politician.”

“It’s a practice that’s desperately needed in today’s way too divisive times.”

According to Jones, the humorous campaign spot which was filmed and edited by Gabriel Dohrn of Denver Film Company, won’t be part of a much larger television buy.

But it should be, if only to add some welcome humor and humanity into an increasing unforgiving political landscape.