‘It Takes a Community’: 7 Breweries Supporting Mental Health All Year

It’s no secret that life can be difficult for everyone. World Health Organization (WHO) reports that anxiety and depression increased another 25% from 2020 to the end of 2021 during the pandemic.

In addition to affecting mental health, COVID-19 it shook the foundations of how many see the work. This has meant closed doors, employee departures Y resetting the limits for the brewery and hotel industry.

Yet even as more people experience mental health stresses, many continue to believe they must handle them on their own. These breweries and brewers’ guilds want to change that. His sustainable approaches to mental health are part of the growing movement to create meaningful change.

Weldwerks Brewing

Greeley, Colo.

welders Building better communities The program donates proceeds from multiple beers to local causes like breast cancer recovery, advocacy for victims of sexual abuse, housing for refugees, and scholarships for students of color in the University of Northern Colorado. Additionally, the brewery chooses a specific community need each year, such as affordable housing, and hosts community partner forums to identify needs, solutions, and fund action steps. Roy Van Anda, Community Engagement Manager, attributes their extensive local reach to slowing down and connecting.

“It can be easy to run with what feels right or what’s easiest,” says Van Anda. “But to have the greatest impact, it takes time to listen and learn… Meet your community where they are.”

Part of the success of Weldwerks’ helping culture is including employees in ideas and solutions. Staff can join Weldwerks Doin’ Good Committee to learn about community issues and choose a charity to support each quarter. Van Anda points out how education, connection, and a sense of purpose improve the health of the brewery itself.

“Yes, it’s a job, but a job becomes so much more meaningful and impactful when you’re connected to the good it does for others,” says Van Anda.

Heroes Brewing Company

Rochester, New York

From honoring fallen soldiers to raising awareness about mental health, every beer in Heroes Brewing Company benefits a cause. Heroes has sold more than 23,000 cans since it opened in December 2020, helping more than 45 local charities or nonprofits.

Founders Marlene and Greg Fagen have seen beers like the #RealConvo IPA for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention and the Wheat Much Love for NAMI touch those affected by suicide and create a safe space to share. Greg recalls several guests who were inspired by beer to create their own mental health initiatives. He also explained how the presence of the beer indicated that this was a place that cared about mental health, making vulnerable discussions possible.

Greg’s emotion is shown when he recounts a pivotal conversation with a guest who was contemplating suicide. “We made a beer and it allowed someone to open up and ask for help. I mean, that’s why we do what we do.”

Heroes is sharing their #RealConvo tag and recipe with every New York State brewery this year to launch in September, which is National Suicide Awareness Month.

Florida Brewers Guild

the Florida Brewers Guild took on mental wellness challenges by organizing available resources, covering mental health topics at its annual conference, and addressing insurance coverage.

“The catalyst for action came in early 2020, even before Covid-19 was on most people’s minds,” says Sean Nordquist, Guild CEO. “In the space of two months, four members of the Florida beer community took their own lives. It was a shock and a punch to the stomach, repeated over and over again.”

Lack of insurance coverage, especially for mental health care, is common in the craft brewing industry. The Guild’s new health care plan includes an Employee Assistance Program for mental health services.

“I knew the union was in a position to at least offer resources to those who felt they had nowhere to go,” says Nordquist.

Unlimited Crafting

Lenexa, Kansas

Driven by the loss of a loved one who committed suicide, co-owners Emily and Dave Mobley commit Unlimited Crafting funds for mental health outreach.

“There has to be more resources for people to communicate, without judgment and knowing that there is help,” says Emily. “Many people struggle with mental health issues and keep it to themselves.”

Every year, this Kansas City-area brewery creates a new beer whose proceeds help its county mental health center. Last year, Limitless sponsored the training of a counselor to work with local schools, teaching students and staff how to approach those who are struggling.

“We think it’s important to just spread the message that this isn’t just an ‘us’ thing,” says Emily. “It takes a community to reach people where they are. Our main hope in this is to prevent a person from experiencing the pain of losing a loved one to suicide.”

Von Ebert Brewery

Portland, Oregon

For more than a decade, Von Ebert Brewery It has helped from oregon lines for life (L4L), a nonprofit organization that works to prevent substance abuse and suicide. In addition to backdrops, the brewery creates auction experiences like the popular opportunity to design a Von Ebert beer and label it with staff. That beer is then released to the public to raise awareness of L4L.

“We were drawn to L4L because of the immediate, measurable and significant impact they are having on our community in regards to crisis intervention,” says Tom Cook, founder of Von Ebert Brewing.

Von Ebert also believes in support within his own walls. The brewery’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion committee partnered with the Oregon Brewers Guild host the first intern in the state crushing barriers program, increasing access for underrepresented people to the Oregon beer industry.

flying embers

Ojai, California

Released in the midst of the 2017 Thomas Fire, hard kombucha brewery flying embers created a non-profit organization, the Embers Foundationto bring back the heroes who fought against the flames.

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One percent of all sales support firefighters, first responders, and community needs through wildfire prevention, real-time natural disaster response, and mental health recovery programs.

This year, the brewery also partnered with the David Lynch Foundation to add meditation resources for California firefighter recovery.

“You want to partner with an organization that shares your same passion and drive and will help you move the needle for meaningful change,” says Bill Moses, founder and CEO of Flying Embers.

Roadmap Brewing Co.

San Antonio, Texas

preparation of the roadmap created IPA base recipe for national awareness initiative hops for the day. Last year, more than 200 brewers joined the national program by brewing a specific IPA in hopes of destigmatizing conversations around mental health.

“This open dialogue is something we’ve taken to heart since childhood when my best friend sadly took his own life,” says Dustin Baker, co-owner and brewer. “You have to bring the conversations to people where they are instead of waiting for them to find the conversations themselves. And sometimes they’re sitting at the bar in a tavern.”

Baker emphasizes that breweries can release the IPA as long as it works in their production schedule. “He also emphasizes that these are conversations that need to happen every day, not just in the month of May.”

“The really cool thing about breweries today is that it’s about so much more than just beer,” says Baker. “They have become community builders, community centers and community leaders.”