Makin’ Noise: A Pussy Riot Beer Collaboration in Denver

On January 4, 2017, Black Sky Brewery, Guardian Brewing Company and a host of other beer friends brewed a collaboration beer for the upcoming Inauguration Day on January 20, 2017. The recipe was developed by Lila Mackey (Black Sky Brewery) and Kim Collins (Guardian Brewing Company) and is a Black Belgian Saison with Peppercorns and Belgian Saison yeast.

I chose to have Guardian Brewing participate in this collaboration project because the initial call out felt like a friend asking for help. This friend has a heart of gold and wants to help all types of people in need. We have no idea what the next four years or the future will bring, but we can try harder to help others, especially strangers. We will probably never meet the people receiving our donations, but that does not mean that we are not connected more from this day on. We are choosing to step up to our future, as well as our community, and meet it with a smile and a purpose.

What is “Makin’ Noise” A Pussy Riot Beer”?

The beer is named after Pussy Riot, the Russian punk band and political activist performance group that spawned a movement that has gained new fans in the United States.

“The goal is to effect change through art with whatever tools you have. We are brewers, so our tool is beer.” (Bess Dougherty)

Our Mission Statement:

We believe in an America that celebrates its diversity, an America that protects and supports anyone regardless of sexual orientation, gender, identity, race, religious views or immigration status. We condemn the hate that has always existed against marginalized groups and we will not stand for the new strong wave hitting our country. We felt it necessary to take action and decided to use our art to make our voices heard.

We are coming out in support of those most at risk in our community and doing what we can to stand together as a united voice against hate and intolerance. This beer works to combat the hate and oppression while also lending support and solidarity to the fight for equality.

We believe in this beautiful community and we feel it is necessary to work together to protect it.

We are asking that at least $1.00 from every pint sold at each participating brewery will go towards a charity that supports those most at risk in our community. We are also working with our partners for tap takeovers to ensure that proceeds from those events also go towards the proposed charities.

“Despite a kneejerk reaction to assume that an inauguration day release insinuates a protest to Trump. However, our only desire for this beer to to insight a larger sense of community and to stand up against injustice.” (Kelissa Hieber, Goldspot Brewing)

Five breweries chose to host brew days for the Pussy Riot Beer Series and they chose to support:

Goldspot Brewing chose One Colorado, an LGBTQ advocacy group
Black Sky Brewery chose Planned Parenthood
Lady Justice chose the ACLU
3 Freaks chose Conservation Colorado, an environmental group
Brewability Lab (will tell us about their chosen charity soon)

In addition, the Colorado Plus Brew Pub in Wheat Ridge plans to tap all five beers a week later, on January 28, and donate at least $1 per beer sale to a fifth charity. Join us any of the five host breweries or at C+ for some delicious beer and make a difference for another in need.

Read the entire story about “Makin’ Noise: A Pussy Riot Beer” collaboration here:

Denver Westword – original article about the first brewing collaboration and project mission
Porch Drinking – article about all breweries participating in collaboration as well as thoughtful discussion about women in beer, naming beers, and activism through beer