Brooklyn Brewery’s Garrett Oliver Launches Worldwide “Brewing For Impact” Campaign

Garrett Oliver is a legend in the brewing industry, and he’s celebrating his 30 years at Brooklyn Brewery with a huge announcement that could change the beer world.

Last night at the Craft Brewer’s Conference in Las Vegas, Oliver announced the “Brewing for Impact” campaign, an initiative that embarks on a collaborative exploration with breweries worldwide, spotlighting the versatile, climate-resistant, ancient West African grain, fonio, and its untapped brewing potential.

Fonio is a climate-resistant a grain in the millet family which has thrived in West Africa for over 5,000 years that Oliver has been championing.

Garrett’s brewing exploration with fonio was inspired by Senegalese Chef Pierre Thiam, whose pioneering food company Yolele has played a pivotal role in introducing the ancient grain to the Western world.

Captivated by Thiam’s TED talk, Oliver saw the potential of fonio – cultivated in West Africa for over 5,000 years and  he has embarked on a mission to create beers with the grain that not only taste great but also contribute to a more sustainable and equitable food system.

“No fertilizers, no irrigation, no pesticides, no insecticides, no fungicides – nothing. Whether you look at it from an environmental perspective, a social benefit perspective for the farming communities, or from a brewing perspective, fonio is so good that it seems like someone must have just made it up” said James Beard Award-winning Brewmaster Garrett Oliver…

“But fonio is real, and Africa grows 700,000 tons of it every year. Fonio is easy to brew with and gives beautiful flavors to beer. This is very exciting stuff, and I can easily envision a future where fonio is widely used as an everyday brewing ingredient, bringing vast benefits to brewers, beer drinkers, farmers and the planet.”

Rolling out throughout 2024, the global campaign will feature a series of limited edition beers that spotlight fonio’s remarkable qualities and potential to drive positive change, with each respective brewery contributing its own expertise and creativity to the lineup

These collaborations, listed in order of their release, are as follows…

• April – Maison Kalao (Senegal): The “Brooklyn A Dakar” Pilsner, coming in April, is the latest from a newer lineage of fonio beers at Maison Kalao, initiated after witnessing Oliver’s innovative use of the grain grown in their own country.
• May – Thornbridge (UK): Launching in May, Thornbridge Brewery introduces the world’s first Pale Ale – Cask Beer made with fonio. This blend of tradition and innovation celebrates a 15-year friendship, rooted in Oliver’s admiration for British cask ale, the tradition that sparked his brewing career.
• June – Omnipollo (Sweden): Omnipollo’s “Blacker Chocolate Stout,” set for release in June, reimagines the first beer Oliver ever brewed for Brooklyn Brewery – “Black Chocolate Stout” – with a focus on fonio’s sustainability.
• July – Carlsberg Laboratory (Denmark): The launch of a 100% fonio beer in July is a collaboration with Carlsberg Research Lab, showcasing both Carlsberg’s and Garrett’s enthusiasm for pioneering sustainable brewing practices and exploring fonio’s potential in new frontiers of beer.
• August – Russian River (US): Russian River’s Fonio Belgian blonde ale emerges from the deep friendship between Garrett and the owners of Russian River, Vinnie and Natalie Cilurzo, and their shared commitment to excellence coupled with a desire to explore being more sustainable in brewing.
• September – Brooklyn Brewery (US): In September, Brooklyn Brewery adds to its impressive fonio beer lineup with a new pale ale brewed with fonio, embodying the “Brewing for Impact” ethos and Oliver’s continued innovation with the grain.
• October – Jing-A (China): Releasing in October, the West Coast IPA made with fonio underscores  a unique connection between Oliver and Jing-A – who first introduced Garrett to Beijing’s brewing culture – while exploring the historical significance of native grains like fonio.
• November – Guinness (US): Guinness’s “Fonio Stout,” launching in November, highlights Garrett’s long-time adoration and respect for the iconic brand – who have deep roots in Africa and around the world – and reflects his personal ties to Ireland—both a major source of inspiration throughout his brewing career.

“In some ways ‘Brewing For Impact’ is the most important work I’ve ever done,” said Oliver. “If what we’ve started truly catches hold in the industry, we will hopefully start seeing the wider use of a grain that has no need for irrigation, fertilizers, pesticides or other chemical inputs.

“Fonio also supports soil regeneration while providing a vital source of income for thousands of smallholder farms in West Africa, which are predominantly female-led…all while making some really fantastic beers,” Oliver added. “What more can you ask for?”