Black Is Beautiful is an open-source stout recipe that anyone can brew. It’s also a contribution to the Black Lives Matter movement and growing support to end police brutality and systemic racism.
Marcus Baskerville, founder and head brewer of Weathered Souls Brewing in San Antonio, Texas, conceived and launched the effort to raise awareness and funds for that cause. Participating breweries produce their own versions of Black Is Beautiful, donating all proceeds to local legal defense funds and reform projects aimed at ending police brutality or supporting equality and inclusion.
So far, at least 989 breweries—representing all 50 states and 19 countries—have signed up to brew a version of the beer. Each brewery chooses its own project or foundation to support; Weathered Souls, for its part, is sending its proceeds to the Know Your Rights Campaign, which focuses on educating and empowering the next generations of black and brown leaders.