UConn Alumni
 

Episode 4
Beer for Good - Socially Conscious Efforts

Featuring Black is Beautiful Beer Initiative Founder
Marcus Baskerville of Weathered Souls Brewing

Date: January 20th, 2021 | Time 6:30pm ET / 5:30pm CT

Online - Zoom
When you think of craft beer, you probably think of hops and juicy IPAs, but you might be surprised to learn that craft beer is making a huge impact in support of their local communities, as well as on the national and global stage.
 

From Other Half Brewing's "All Together" initiative at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to support hospitality and beer industry workers who were impacted by closures, to Sierra Nevada's "Resilience" effort in 2019 in support of the Camp fires in California, to today's efforts by Weathered Souls Brewing (San Antonio, TX) and the "Black is Beautiful" initiative in support of social justice efforts nationwide, socially conscious efforts are a part of the fabric of who these brewers and businesses are.

With a vision to amplify their voice through beer in support of social justice efforts, the "Black is Beautiful" initiative was born in 2020 amidst a chaotic backdrop of racially motivated violence in the country, a pandemic, and a tumultuous political environment. Marcus Baskerville, owner and brewer at Weathered Souls Brewing (San Antonio, TX) has now found himself piloting a collaborative effort bringing beer to consumers with a message of hope for change. With participating breweries in 22 countries, 50 states, and 1,177 breweries globally, Black is Beautiful was designed to raise awareness for the injustices people of color face daily and raise funds for police brutality reform, and legal defenses for those who have been wronged.

As a form of corporate social responsibility, Black is Beautiful sets the table for this exclusive 1881 Series: What's on Tap episode where we will dive deeper into why breweries have signed on to participate in this initiative and engage in a wide range of socially conscious efforts.

Featuring Black is Beautiful initiative founder and Weathered Souls Brewing founder, owner, and brewer, Marcus Baskerville, as well as Black is Beautiful initiative participants and UConn Alumni owned breweries - Labyrinth Brewing Company (Manchester, CT) - Adam DeLaura '11 (BGS) and Still Hill Brewery (Rocky Hill, CT) Laura Amenta '02 (BUS) with co-owner and head brewer Scott Barbanel, we will get to know a bit more about this incredible initiative, how it started, where it is today, and why these local Connecticut breweries all jumped in to participate.

Moderated by UConn's Satell Fellow in Corporate Social Responsibility and Associate Professor in Business Law, Stephen Park, we will also take a closer look into many of the individual practices that Still Hill Brewery and Labyrinth Brewing are working on to be good social partners to their local communities and why they do it.

Meet your panelists:

 

 

 

PREVIOUS EVENTS IN THIS SERIES

 

 

 

 

 

 

Episode 2 - The Art of Beer Tasting - Learn to Taste Like a Pro

Join Advanced Cicerone® Max Finnance '15 (CLAS) of Artisanal Brewing Ventures as he guides us through a beer education and tasting, featuring beers from the ABV portfolio, which you can find nationwide at your local craft beer store/liquor store. 

Click here for the list of featured beers.

 

 

 

 

Episode 1 - How Breweries Pivot in a Pandemic

This happy hour features a panel of UConn Alumni brewers and business owners, moderated by UConn School of Business faculty, Dr. Cinthia Satornino. Hear how they are defying the odds and keeping their business afloat.
Panelists:
Adam Delaura '11 BGS
Owner/Brewe, Labyrinth Brewing Company, Manchester, CT
Dayne Laskey '09 '11 PHARM 
Owner/Brewer, Tox Brewing, New London, CT
Mike Teed '08 CLAS
Owner/Brewer, Black Pond Brews, Danielson, CT
David Wollner '82 CLAS 
Owner/Brewer, Willimantic Brewing Company, Willimantic, CT

 

 

 

Questions & Additional Information

If you have questions or require additional information for any of these three events, please contact Josh Proulx, Director of Alumni Engagement via email.

All Zoom information would be provided upon registration.​  

These events may be recorded for UConn and UConn Foundation promotional materials.