June is Pride Month, and local breweries are celebrating accordingly: by making good beer for good causes with can art featuring a late ’80s and early ’90s aesthetic.
DC Brau has been making Pride Pils (4.7% alcohol by volume) since 2017, and last year collaborated with LGBTQ+-owned Red Bear Brewing. This year they’re expanding the collaboration, adding in Right Proper. You’ll see this pilsner at all three breweries, and plenty of other places, too.
A press release notes: “Since launching Pride Pils in 2017, DC Brau has donated more than $55,000 to The Blade Foundation and SMYAL, selling more than 97,500 Pride Pils cans.”
Keeping it Right Proper, and keeping it pilsner, the Shaw brewpub collaborated with DC’s Ekko Astral on Head Empty Brew. All proceeds go to the Trans Journalist Association. Available June 7 at the Shaw location, Brookland might follow shortly thereafter.
Lost Generation is partnering with Capital Pride Alliance on a blonde ale, Totally Radical (5% ABV), that “is dripping with notes of passionfruit, apricot, pink grapefruit and freshly squeezed citrus.” 100% of proceeds at the brewery on June 2 went to Capital Pride, a portion of proceeds will go to them thereafter.
Gluten got you down, or just prefer cider? Anxo has you covered. A dollar from each draft or 4-pack of their Pride Cider (6.3% ABV) supports SMYAL. Better yet, enjoy the cider during their 7th anniversary on Kennedy Street celebration next week!
Across the river, Port City is throwing a Pride-themed market and drag show on Saturday, June 15. “We start the day with a mini-market composed of 10+ LGBTQ vendors from 12-4pm, food trucks, cold beer, and yard games. Be sure to stick around and join us that evening for a Drag Show in our brewhouse starting at 5pm.”
Can’t make Saturday, June 15? City-State’s pride market is Sunday, June 16, plus a portion of sales from every Wednesday game night in June will go to SMYAL.
Williamsburg isn’t local by any definition, but Friends of Dorthy IPA from Virginia Beer Co. is available in NoVA, and the brewery is a long-time supporter of LGBTQIA+ communities. The 2024 edition (7.3% ABV) features “Amarillo & El Dorado in the whirlpool with a Mosaic dry-hop…a summer hazy overflowing with a plethora of sweet fruit, freshly sliced green apple, and red berry hues.”
Like Red Bear, Riverdale Park’s Denizens Brewing Company is LGBTQ-owned, and they’re also turning ten this month. Save the date for June 15, which includes guest taps, a beer collaboration with Brookland’s Finest, and an all around good time.
This is a non-exhaustive round-up that we’re happy to update, so watch this space all month and Happy Pride!
June 6 Update: Please welcome both Bluejacket and Crooked Crab’s pride IPAs!
“Double dry-hopped with Galaxy, The Rainbow explodes with juicy tropical fruit flavors and shows a creamy softness on the palate. Brewed every year for Pride, a portion of the proceeds benefit Capital Pride,” notes Bluejacket in a social media post. 7% ABV
“Crafted to celebrate Pride Month and inspired by the magic of our February 𝓢𝓮𝓬𝓻𝓮𝓽 𝓖𝓵𝓪𝓼𝓼 𝓒𝓵𝓾𝓫 design, this celestial brew is a hop lover’s dream. Dive into a galaxy of flavor with juicy Citra Incognito, Galaxy, Mosaic Cryo, and Nelson Sauvin hops delivering a supernova of tropical fruit tastes,” says the brewery. It releases today, and at 8.5% ABV is the heaviest hitter of the bunch.
Also clocking in at 8.5%, Aslin’s Now More Than Ever benefits Rainbow Families and is available wherever Aslin is sold.
