Several craft breweries from British Columbia are participating in the All Together IPA project, which was created by Brooklyn-based Other Half Brewing to support members of the hospitality industry who have lost employment because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Note: The COVID-19 pandemic has radically changed the way we all live and work, and British Columbia’s breweries have changed the way they operate to reflect that — temporarily closing their tasting rooms to the public and launching direct delivery services in many communities. While it isn’t appropriate to visit these breweries right now, there is nothing wrong with learning more about them and dreaming about a trip you might want to take in the future when virus-related travel restrictions are lifted.
Here’s how the founders of Other Half describe it:
“All Together is a worldwide, open-ended beer collaboration created to raise support for the industry we love so much. It’s an effort to raise awareness and provide relief, even in the smallest way, to those who are struggling. We’re inviting any brewer, from any corner of the planet to participate. The recipe is open source, the artwork is public, and the name is yours to use. The goal is to provide you with the tools to make the beer at the lowest possible cost.
We ask that a portion of the proceeds go to supporting hospitality professionals in your community. The rest should go to keeping you in business to weather this storm. For us, proceeds will go to the Restaurant Workers Community Foundation. As much as this is about raising money, this is also an exercise in awareness so that local communities can understand how daily life has been upended for those that rely on social gathering to make a living.
At the end of the day, this is about what it’s always been about—community. While we may not be able to come together in person right now, that spirit can never be taken away from us. If we do our part to protect and support each other, that spirit can actually be strengthened.
Be safe, be good to one another. We’re here for you.”
After this project was announced in March, several BC craft breweries have announced plans to brew an All Together IPA, and some of the beers have already started coming out. Follow #AllTogetherBeer in social media channels or check the All Together website to find out more about all the other breweries that are also participating.
Superflux Beer Co.
Superflux started off as one of the incubator breweries at Callister Brewing. It is currently working with Strathcona Beer Co. to contract brew its beers while its own facility is under construction on Clark Drive in East Vancouver. Superflux is well known for its range of cutting-edge IPAs.
$4 from every 4-pack sold will go to the Vancouver Food & Beverage Community Relief Fund.
Another Beer Co.
Another Beer Co. joined Steel & Oak Brewing in New Westminster last year. Here’s how they describe their All Together IPA:
“We decided to brew a Coast-to-Coast style IPA that bursts forth with sticky hop dankness (Mosaic, Citra, Simcoe, Cascade), a clean water profile, limited yeast presence (Chico Strain), smooth bitterness and a hazy appearance. Super crushable and full of good vibes. This beer speaks to the collaborative resilience of the craft beer industry and small business folk everywhere.”
Partial proceeds from sales of this beer will be shared throughout he hospitality/service industry of New Westminster as well as the Say Mercy Staff Meal initiative.
Neighbourhood Brewing
This Penticton brewery isn’t even open yet, but they have worked with their neighbour (literally, they’re basically right next door to each other!) Bad Tattoo Brewing to contract brew this All Together IPA.
Proceeds from this beer will go to the BC Hospitality Foundation, which raises money to support those in the hospitality industry that are facing financial crisis due to a health condition.
Twin Sails Brewing
One of the five breweries on Brewers Row, Twin Sails is well known for its stylishly simple label designs and creative beer names, as well as its delicious beers. Here’s how they describe this All Together IPA:
“This recipe was an invitation to impart our own interpretation of a recipe being brewed by breweries around the world. We choose to take the best of both concepts, and put forward a beer that showcases the best of both worlds. Up front is a big juicy New England hop profile, which is balanced by the crisp dry finish of a West Coast IPA. We showcase hand selected Citra, Simcoe and Mosaic in this beer, putting forward notes of citrus, grapefruit pith, mango and pine. This is balanced by a simple malt bill of Pilsner and oats.”
$4 from every 4-pack sold will go to the Vancouver Food & Beverage Community Relief Fund.
Dog Mountain Brewing
This brand new brewery, which just opened in Port Alberni in December, has been forced to adjust quickly to the new realities of operating a business during the pandemic. One of the things they figured out quickly was how to package their beer so that they can sell it through take-out and by delivery. You can also listen to our latest podcast featuring an interview with the founders of Dog Mountain Brewing.
Proceeds will go in an account with local food wholesaler, Circle Dairy, and will be used to help the local restaurants that were forced to close to pay their food costs when they reopen.
Coast Mountain Brewing
Whistler‘s Coast Mountain Brewing is led by brewer Kevin Winter, who had this to say about his All Together IPA:
“We have the All Together Hazy IPA coming out Thursday, May 14. We brewed All Together as a hybrid NEIPA and West Coast IPA style to include a mild bitterness around 25 IBUs. We kept the recipe otherwise exactly as Other Half Brewing suggested to include a massive schedule of dry hopping. And its damn tasty already. Distribution will be kept mainly, as always, in Whistler with a few drop offs in Pemberton and Squamish.”
Proceeds raised from sales of this beer will go to Whistler Community Services, which runs the local Food Bank and is in dire need of support. “With our town being almost completely made up of hospitality workers who were all living paycheque to paycheque, those are the folks now in line at the food bank here and need as much help as we can give.”
Remember to Stay Home & Stay Healthy!
For more information about COVID-19, please consult government resources here.
