February 2023 is not only another opportunity for each of us to celebrate and acknowledge the achievements and successes of Black people, it also provides an opportunity to make new history. To this end, I’m partnering with Astro Lab Brewing of Silver Spring, Maryland to coordinate a collaboration between the brewery and the Harvey-Wilder Foundation, a family-owned scholarship fund for HBCU students. The Harvey-Wilder Foundation (HWF) was established in 2015 by graduates and supporters of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs). The Foundation initially worked to raise awareness of HBCUs and provide scholarship funds for high school seniors in my hometown of Forsyth, GA but has expanded to high school seniors nationwide. Astro Lab’s welcoming environment, a product of co-founders Matt Cronin and Emma Whelan, is a perfect match for HWF and this collaboration beer. Matt and Emma pride themselves on community by living their mantra of “our community is our customer, and our customers are our community.”
The beer is a New England India Pale Ale (NEIPA), named Artemis V. It’s brewed with Rahr and Pilsner malts and is hopped handsomely with Strata, Mosaic, and Meridian – two of my favorites in Strata and Mosaic, with Meridian adding a sweet, citrusy profile to the beer. The name pays homage to NASA’s Artemis Mission Series and their recent strides to work with more HBCUs nationwide. NASA is awarding $11.7 million to eight Historically Black Colleges and Universities through the new Data Science Equity, Access, and Priority in Research and Education (DEAP) program. These awards will enable HBCU students and faculty to conduct innovative data science research that contributes to NASA’s missions. Moreover, NASA will land the first woman and first person of color on the moon using innovative technologies to explore more of the lunar surface than ever before through the Artemis Mission Series – targeting 2028 for the Artemis V launch.
Beer has a way of impacting so many areas of life and bringing people together across mixed backgrounds, interests, and goals – all a perfect fit for the creation of the Artemis V NEIPA. The collaboration between these two organizations is not merely a beer to be enjoyed by all, but a fundraising initiative for the Harvey-Wilder Foundation. A percentage of the proceeds will go to the foundation to be used in tandem with HWFs other fundraising campaigns to provide 2023-2024 recipients with $1,000 scholarships, their first passport, and career mentorship as they matriculate through undergraduate study. We’ve worked to increase the number of recipients and the range of services the Foundation provides to revitalize HBCU enrollment where it has declined and to continue HBCU successes.
The official release date of Artemis V is Feb. 17th at Astro Lab Brewing (8216 Georgia Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20910), with a Harvey-Wilder Foundation organized event at Astro Lab Brewing on Friday, February 24th, 2023. Join us in celebrating this special beer for this special cause, cheers to Astro Lab & the Harvey-Wilder Foundation.
Passionate about HBCUs or wanting to support the Harvey-Wilder Foundation? Visit the Harvey-Wilder Foundation to learn more or here to donate. DC Beer and the Harvey-Wilder Foundation thank you!
