The North American Guild of Beer Writers, along with support from CraftBeer.com, a website for beer lovers published by the Brewers Association, has selected four submissions to receive the 2020 Diversity in Beer Writing Grant.
After receiving a collection of strong entries, the Guild and CraftBeer.com will work with four journalists to tell several important stories:
Alessandra Bergamin will chronicle a cross-border collaboration between California's Dos California's Brewsters, SouthNorte Beer Co., and Tijuana, Mexico's Lúdica Artesenal Cerveceria. The story will follow female brewers making a beer that will help fund scholarships for female peers in Mexico.
Stephanie Grant plans to report about the safety of women who work in the beer industry from a variety of roles and perspectives. Industry professionals will share stories and insight on the challenges they face at events, traveling, and more, as a way to give context to their experiences.
Louis Livingston-Garcia will tell the story of the leaders behind Minnesota's Brewing Change Collaborative, a group made up of people of color and the LGBTQ+ community working to share beer with minority communities and support those who are trying to break into beer.
Jen Blair will connect plant-based food and beer to write about how these dietary options can work together to create a more inclusive environment at events and among those who love beer, especially among African-Americans, who have the highest percentage of vegans among all demographics in the U.S.
As winners of the grant, all four will receive a cash stipend for completed work. The final stories will be published on CraftBeer.com.
The goal of NAGBW’s Diversity in Beer Writing Grant is to highlight the value of stories that can showcase diversity and inclusion – in all its forms and challenges – within beer. In addition to these projects, NAGBW and CraftBeer.com will select additional recipients later this year.
Additional underwriting for the 2020 Diversity in Beer Writing Grant comes from Allagash Brewing Company.