Brewing for Impact Campaign Highlights Sustainability and Fonio

Garrett Oliver’s Brewing for Impact Campaign

In celebration of his 30th anniversary with Brooklyn Brewery, Garrett Oliver, the James Beard Award-winning brewmaster, unveiled the Brewing for Impact campaign. This initiative aims to showcase the ancient West African grain fonio and its extraordinary brewing potential.

The Versatility of Fonio

Fonio is an ancient grain known as the “seed of the universe.” This versatile and climate-resistant grain has thrived in West Africa for over 5,000 years. Flourishing in the hot, arid regions near the Sahara Desert, fonio is a drought-resistant crop, making it valuable for sustainable agriculture. Moreover, fonio is packed with nutrients, including fiber, iron, B-vitamins, zinc, and magnesium. It is also rich in antioxidant flavonoids and high in methionine and cysteine, which promote hair, skin, and nail growth.

Inspiration Behind the Campaign

Garrett Oliver’s exploration with fonio was inspired by Senegalese Chef Pierre Thiam. Chef Thiam’s pioneering food company, Yolele, played a crucial role in introducing the grain to the Western world. Garrett’s focus on fonio brewing has been significant since 2019, and now, with the Brewing for Impact campaign, these efforts are being expanded.

Global Brewing Collaborations

For this campaign, Garrett Oliver has united a diverse coalition of brewing partners from around the globe, including Maison Kalao from Senegal, Thornbridge from the UK, Omnipollo from Sweden, Carlsberg from Denmark, Russian River from the US, Jing-A from China, Guinness, and Brooklyn Brewery. Each partner is crafting a unique beer with fonio, showcasing the grain’s adaptability and brewing potential.

Brewing with Sustainability in Mind

Oliver explains, “In some ways, ‘Brewing For Impact’ is the most important work I’ve ever done. If what we’ve started catches hold in the industry, we will hopefully start seeing the wider use of a grain that doesn’t need irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides, or other chemical inputs. It also supports soil regeneration and provides a vital source of income for thousands of smallholder farms in West Africa, which are predominantly female-led… all while making fantastic beers. What more can you ask for?”

The Campaign Rollout

The Brewing for Impact campaign will feature a series of limited-edition beers throughout 2024, each spotlighting fonio’s remarkable qualities and potential to drive positive change. The collaborations will roll out as follows:

• April – Maison Kalao (Senegal): “Brooklyn A Dakar” Pilsner.
• May – Thornbridge (UK): The world’s first Pale Ale – Cask Beer made with fonio.
• June – Omnipollo (Sweden): “Blacker Chocolate Stout”.
• July – Carlsberg Laboratory (Denmark): A 100% fonio beer.
• August – Russian River (US): Fonio Belgian blonde ale.
• September – Brooklyn Brewery (US): A new pale ale brewed with fonio.
• October – Jing-A (China): West Coast IPA made with fonio.
• November – Guinness (US): “Fonio Stout”.

Support for The Michael James Jackson Foundation

The Brewing for Impact campaign also supports The Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing and Distilling, an organization founded by Garrett Oliver. The foundation is dedicated to funding scholarships for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) in the brewing and distilling trades. A portion of the proceeds from the beers released under this campaign will go towards this noble cause.

The Global Recognition

The interest from global breweries in joining the Brewing for Impact campaign shows the recognition of Oliver’s contributions to craft beer and his mission for sustainable brewing practices. This campaign encourages the global beer community to celebrate the legacy of a brewing pioneer while looking forward to the promising future role of fonio in brewing.

Table of Partner Breweries and Beers