Brew For Ukraine

Craft Brewers Significantly Contribute to Their Communities

Breweries can have a huge, positive impact on their communities. In addition to generating jobs and tax revenue, they also give back to their communities in other big ways, as well. Read on to learn more about all the upsides of having a brewery in your community, courtesy of Brew for Ukraine. Economy According to All About Beer Magazine, writer James Fallows and his wife Deborah spent three years working on a project for The Atlantic, spending a few weeks in each of the 22 different cities they visited. Along the way, they developed an informal checklist of 11 traits that distinguished thriving cities from cities that were declining. The last item on the list was the presence of a craft brewery. Fallows said the presence of a craft brewery was the most reliable marker of a thriving city. Although you might think he was joking, you’ll be hard pressed to find an exception. While Fallows suggested that a craft brewery is one effect of a community’s well being, ABA Magazine thinks the brewery is part of the cause. Starting and operating a brewery is expensive. You need expensive equipment and a lot of space. “When you’re spending a quarter- or half-million dollars on equipment, you can’t afford expensive commercial space,” AAB Magazine points out. So breweries often set up shop in bad parts of town because the rent is less expensive. A business opening in a bad part of town is the first step of revitalization. Breweries bring in people who want to try their beer, thus creating “little pockets of prosperity in cities that can (and often do) radiate out into the neighbourhood.” After a brewery moves in and refurbishes an old building, it shows other businesses the promise of the surrounding buildings, and they also consider moving to the area. Togetherness The positive effect breweries have on a community may even be stronger in smaller communities, the magazine says. Smaller towns are often lacking in places for people to hang out, so when a brewery opens, they provide a much-needed social hub. And places with higher walk scores, meaning where residents can easily walk to multiple stores and restaurants, will also benefit from the brewery scene. In fact, many breweries are forming districts that attract other retail and restaurant establishments. Many will feature bands or car shows to draw in people and create community connections. Breweries allow people to connect on multiple levels. For instance, Brewdog Breweries has locations across the world, from Scotland to the U.S. to Australia, and they love dogs in more than just their business name. It’s the perfect location if you enjoy good beer and a dog’s company, and you can meet like-minded people. Many breweries are now pairing with food trucks and local vendors to create regular - but mobile and evolving - social hubs. And there are plenty of other food-related opportunities out there, from bakeries to cookbooks and specialty juices. This is a beautiful time for food lovers to test out their entrepreneurial legs and contribute to the growing brewery-related social vibe. Donations Many breweries around the world use their product to support important causes. For example, Camden Town Brewery created a seasonal helles to support the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. Tioga Sequoia Brewing in California supports the firefighters in California through their Forest Strong line. And Brewgooder in Scotland donates 100% of their proceeds to fund clean water charities. Craft brewers give in a variety of ways. YES! Magazine notes that breweries open their spaces for charity events, and beer is often donated to charity giveaways, fundraisers, and silent auctions. Some craft beers are branded – either in the artwork on the label or the name of the beer – to bring awareness to a cause. Previous brewers have done this for causes such as environmental and political causes, veterans’ organisations, medical research, survivor funding, and more. The Beer Professor states that breweries are becoming necessary third spaces, meaning they are places outside of work and the home that serve a social purpose. The setting, seating arrangement, and the relaxing beer all work together to create an atmosphere for sharing new ideas and business concepts. Essentially, the vibe at the craft beer brewery is perfect for building new social and business networks. But the vibe goes beyond this by unintentionally boosting the economy and intentionally lending a hand to communities. Bars and pubs have always had a way of bringing people together. Even when it was illegal to drink, speakeasies showed the social power of a little alcohol. As breweries continue to emerge, they are changing the way many people view beer and the social landscape. And creating walkable brewery districts with more business opportunities is great for consumers and entrepreneurs alike. On February 26, the Federation of Beer and Pravda Beer Theatre, a brewer in Ukraine, discussed coordinating collaboration beers in support of Ukraine Relief. Thus, Brew for Ukraine was born. If you’d like to support us or collaborate, email us at brewforukraine@federationofbeer.com