Alewerks Brewing Company will unveil a new Golden Ale under the label Teamwerks on April 30 to benefit relief efforts in Ukraine.
The Williamsburg craft brewing company will donate $1 from every four-pack of Teamwerks sold to Mercy Chefs, a Portsmouth-based nonprofit deployed to provide food relief for Ukrainians crossing the border into Romania and for those running out of supplies in Ukraine. Alewerks will also donate $1 from every glass sold of Teamwerks at its Ewell Road and L.A.B. Taproom locations.
On launch day, Saturday, April 30, Alewerks will double its giving by donating $2 from every glass and four-pack sold of Teamwerks.
Operations Director Michael Claar said the entire team at Alewerks embraced coming together to show solidarity with Ukraine. Mercy Chefs received national recognition for donating $1 million in food and supplies to Ukrainian refugees. Portsmouth is home to the organization’s first permanent community kitchen.
“It just made sense for us to look local,” Claar said. “Once I saw there was an organization in Hampton Roads working to make a difference, that just seemed like a natural group to tie this release to. We have this opportunity to create on a regular basis. We want to use that creativity not to just help ourselves but to help those who really need it.”
Ukraine’s bustling craft brewing scene includes a grassroots campaign to recognize Ukrainian Golden Ale as a distinct beer style, a push that has taken on greater nationalistic symbolism due to the Russian invasion of the European country.
Lead Brewer Kyle Meyerhoff said Teamwerks is at the higher end of the ABV spectrum with a sweet, spicy, herbal flavor profile. Ground coriander seeds add an old spice finish.
“Golden Ale is a relatively traditional style,” Meyerhoff said. “People who like golden ales or traditional Belgium styles will find it fun to drink.”
The Ukrainian Golden Ale is the first under the Teamwerks label that will also denote future special releases for impactful causes.
Alewerks’ history of charitable giving includes raising $7,500 with the release of the limited-edition brew Absolute Uncertainty for the Virginia Restaurant, Lodging & Travel Association to support workers displaced by restaurant and hospitality industry shutdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Alewerks collaborated on the Black is Beautiful national initiative to bring awareness to the injustices that people of color face daily with the creation of its Imperial Stout, with proceeds benefitting the Urban League of Hampton Roads.
For additional information, contact:
Michael Claar, Operations Director, Alewerks Brewing Company I 757-220-3670 I mclaar@alewerks.com
