April 13--North Carolina's recently passed House Bill 2, which voids local nondiscrimination laws for the LGBTQ community, has attracted the ire of national companies and celebrities in recent weeks, but now, the state's craft brewing community has entered the fray.
In an effort to fight the new laws, a coalition of 30 craft beer makers is brewing a special ale to benefit state charities. Started by Erik Lars Myers, founder and head brewer of Mystery Brewing Co., and Keil Jansen, owner and brewmaster of Ponysaurus Brewing Co., the campaign will benefit Equality NC and QORDS, which organizes summer camps for LGBTQ youth.
"We didn't feel like the law that was passed represented us as constituents, entrepreneurs, or business owners," Myers wrote on the campaign's fundraising page. "We wanted to do something in response." The beer, dubbed "Don't Be Mean to People: A Golden Rule Saison," a farmhouse ale made with North Carolina grain and molasses, has already surpassed its initial goal, with more than $22,000 donated over two days.
Ponysaurus will host the brewing on April 16, with ingredients, labor and support provided by the participating breweries.
For a full list of participating breweries, or to donate, visit the fundraising campaign website at bit.ly/ncgoldenrule.
jbhernandez@chicagotribune.com
