Pretty much everything about our daily lives has changed, but one thing has stayed the same: we love the city of Richmond. This sentiment has kept us going through this tough time.
We’ve had a lot of time to reflect on what matters. As we shift around ordering systems or find new ways to bring beer to your door, we’ve found ourselves looking for reminders of why we’re here. And it always comes back to the city—and the folks we call our friends and neighbors.
On Friday, May 8, 2020, we’re releasing Pride & Purpose, a beer for Richmond. Named after our city’s motto. Pride & Purpose is a refreshing Belgian Pale Ale coming in at 6.8%, meant to echo the essence of Richmond. It’s a beer for everyone to enjoy. “The beer feels like home,” says East Brother co-founder Rob Lightner. “We pride ourselves on making excellent beer that is accessible and unfussy. This beer embodies everything we love about brewing and everything we care about in our community.”
We’ve seen so many wonderful efforts to help those in need during this time. With Pride & Purpose, we wanted to focus our attention on the city that we love. With every sale of Pride & Purpose, a portion will go to the Richmond Rapid Response Fund. The R3F will provide aid to the citizens of Richmond through direct monetary support to city residents, supporting local businesses, and continued investment in community infrastructure. You can drink a delicious beer and know that your purchase is going right back into the community.
Our Pride & Purpose beer dovetails so well with another value we hold dear at East Brother: Beer is Labor. We’re passionate about brewing traditional-style beers, and we see that passion reflected back by our taproom patrons.
For us at East Brother, our taproom has always been a center for neighborhood action. “The role of the taproom is changing,” Rob says. “We’re not just selling beer anymore. Our taproom serves as a community gathering space—you’re as likely to see folks grabbing a beer after work as you are to see a community organization planning an event at one of our tables.”
East Brother is an extension of our love for Richmond. It’s an investment in our hometown. That’s why you see Richmond displayed on everything we make. On our cans, our merch, our posters and signs—Richmond is there. We believe so much in our city because our city reflects our values. We’re hardworking, humble, and do our best to produce classic beers without pretense or ceremony. We’re proud of where we’re from and ready to take care of our community as best we know how.
Richmond has always been defined by industriousness and perseverance. While we’ve seen folks go above and beyond during this critical time to help one another, the community’s response feels natural—this is what we do in Richmond, and will continue to do.
You can get Pride & Purpose a few ways: order for curbside pickup, local delivery, or ship anywhere in California.