Arizona Wilderness raises funds for LGBTQIA+ license plate and more drinks to know this week

June 7, 2023Chris Crowell

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Co., a favorite around the CBB offices (and fellow 10-year-old business) launched an awesome prickly pear lager that will raise funds to create Arizona's first LGBTQIA+ license plate. The beer, Prism, is being released in collaboration with Equality Maricopa, a resource group that supports LGBTQIA+ students and employees of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges across the Valley.

Last year, Equality Maricopa began the push for Arizona to create a specialty license plate, proceeds from which would fund the PRISM Scholarship—a scholarship for LGBTQIA+ students—in perpetuity. If the license plate is adopted, Arizona will become one of the first states with an LGBTQIA+-themed license plate design.

To get the license plate produced, the organization needs to provide the state with $32,000, and they’re over halfway toward that goal. A percentage of the sales of Prism (the beer) will be donated to help them get the rest of the way.

Speaking of the beer: Named for the PRISM Scholarship, Prism is a delightfully fruit-forward lager brewed with Arizona-grown prickly pear. The label on each can includes an illustration of the proposed design of the license plate. Each can also includes a QR code with a link to make a direct donation to the PRISM Scholarship fund.

To celebrate the beer's launch, Equality Maricopa will be hosting a happy hour at Arizona Wilderness’ DTPHX beer garden from 4-8 p.m. Saturday, June 10. A dollar from every pint of beer sold during the event will be donated to the license plate creation fund.

River North Brewery will be throwing a party to re-release Midnight Hike imperial porter to honor its gold medal award at the World Beer Cup. The next chance to try this internationally renowned chocolate beer is on Saturday, June 10th at both River North taprooms in Denver.

Midnight Hike was first brewed in 2020. The mad-scientist brewers at River North had the inspiration to produce an intensely chocolate-forward porter unlike any other. This porter has a confection-like personality and offers an explosive, chocolatey aroma thanks to nearly ten pounds of cacao nibs per barrel and a skosh of vanilla to round out the flavor. Layers of vanilla and light caramel character reveal themselves throughout each sip of this charred mahogany-huedale.

The newest and greatest release of Midnight Hike comes in at 11.1% ABV and will be available at both taprooms in 375mL bottles and on tap while it lasts. The brewery will also be releasing a whiskey barrel aged version of Midnight Hike later in the summer for the barrel aged beer fans.

Shiner Beer just announced the highly anticipated return of Prickly Pear with creative ad campaign on Instagram, showcasing unedited Instagram comments and voiceovers from Shiner fans who passionately plead for the beloved summer seasonal to come back.

Shiner's Austin-based creative agency Bakery, took an imaginative approach to the campaign, portraying the return of Prickly Pear in a whimsical but adult world that taps into the passion and loyalty of Shiner fans. The ad spot opens up with a story written by the thousands of real comments with corresponding Instagram handles of fans begging Shiner to bring back Prickly Pear. The final frame reveals that Prickly Pear is back on shelves now through July at select retailers in Texas and the southeast. Fun stuff.

The Hop Valley Stash pack is the perfect variety mix with an IPA for every beer persona (even those who don't like IPAs) and now includes Stashadelica and Stash Bandicoot.

The Hope Farm is a coastal destination in Fairhope, Ala., that houses multiple dining experiencesfueled by its sustainable onsite farm, an award-winning wine program and multiple tranquil event spaces. In tune with their passion for experimenting with flavors and supporting other local businesses, they have teamed up with local neighbor Fairhope Brewing to create a Chestnut Mushroom Porter beer featuring The Hope Farm's home-grown chestnut mushrooms.

Chestnut mushrooms are a favorite amongst The Hope Farm culinary team (they are grown onsite in the farm's hydroponic mushroom grow container), and its unique flavor lends itself perfectly for a tasty Porter-style beer. The beer is brewed utilizing just over a pound of dried Chestnut mushrooms and will be exclusively served alongside a five-course menu next month by the farm's executive chef Adam Stephens.

This exclusive beer will only be available during that one-off beer dinner, but the relationship between these two local businesses does not end there. In the past, they’ve also worked with breweries to develop a Blue Oyster stout, Hydroponic Basil Saison and a Blueberry/Basil Sour.

Washington-based Schilling Cider just launched the newest addition to its Big Zesty lemonade cider family. This tangy, juicy, ripe-raspberry twist on the beloved summer beverage sparkles taste buds and refreshes sippers, reminding them to stay cool.