Creature Comforts Brewing Company, an award-winning, purpose-driven craft brewery, is excited to announce the launch of Fonio Lager to benefit its 2025 Brew For One recipient, the Michael James Jackson Foundation (MJF). The non-profit awards scholarships to Black, Indigenous, and people of color in the brewing and distilling industries.
Fonio Lager, created in collaboration with Our Culture Brewing, is the Brew For One featured beer in 2025 and will be unveiled at the Creature Comforts taproom in Athens, Ga., on Friday, February 28.
Established by Creature Comforts in 2017, Brew For One is a philanthropic initiative designed to meet a specific need for a new beneficiary each year. “Brew For One is Creature Comforts’ opportunity to do for one person what we wish we could do for everyone,” said Co-Founder & CEO Adam Beauchamp. “The program identifies a new recipient each year and then works to meet some of their most pressing needs. ‘The One’ is flexible by design; it could mean one person, one couple, one family, or one cause. We then brew a beer and put the profits to work. We are honored to partner with the Michael James Jackson Foundation this year.”
At the core of this year’s release is fonio, an ancient West African grain cultivated and revered for more than 5,000 years. This particular grain has been utilized for less than one percent of all beers brewed in the U.S. Drought-resistant and nutrient-rich, fonio supports sustainable agriculture and empowers West African farmers by driving economic opportunity. When used in the brewing process, it contributes a soft, rounded mouthfeel to the beer while showcasing fruit-forward aromas like lychee or gooseberry. This invites brewers to explore its versatility while celebrating its profound cultural significance.
“Fonio Lager is more than a beer; it’s a celebration of heritage and ingenuity,” said Garrett Oliver, Founder of MJJF. “With every sip, consumers are supporting community, education, and sustainability. Together, we can build a brewing industry that mirrors the vibrant diversity of our world—an industry rooted in shared growth and collective progress. We applaud Creature Comforts for their recognition and support.”
MJF is a living tribute to Michael James Jackson, a pioneering beer and whiskey writer. The foundation carries forward his legacy by championing inclusivity, ensuring that the future of brewing and distilling is as rich and diverse as the beverages themselves. MJJF is on a mission to dismantle systemic barriers within the brewing and distilling industries. By funding scholarships and educational opportunities, MJF equips individuals from underrepresented groups with the tools to lead and innovate. From formal education to technical certifications, the foundation is nurturing the next generation of changemakers who will reshape the industry’s culture.
Brew For One was launched in late 2017 following the tragic loss of a beloved Creature Comforts team member—Bob Weckback, who was at the time the brewery’s head cellarman. That first beer’s profits were used to seed a college fund for Bob’s son. Since then, a new recipient has been selected annually.
For more information about Creature Comforts, please visit www.creaturecomfortsbeer.com.
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