Craft brewers are highly creative and innovative individuals. In addition to a love of beer, I would argue that the opportunity to be creative and innovative is what attracts many individuals to become home brewers, keeps them engaged in the hobby, and eventually propels them to open their own commercial brewery. Every brewer, with whom I have had a conversation, stresses the joy they get from brewing a new beer using a recipe that they concocted themselves. But creativity and innovation in the brewing world extends well beyond that of creating a new beer. Indeed, the next time you step into a brewery, you will see evidence of creativity everywhere – from the tap handles, to the designs on beer cans, to the very names of the beers themselves.

When it comes to beer names, many brewers choose beer names that connect the beer drinker with the brewery’s local community, whether that be a historical event, local landmark, or famous person. Great Lakes Brewing Company in Cleveland, OH do a particularly good job at this. Their portfolio of beers include Elliot Ness Amber Lager (named after the American Prohibition Agent who was hired as Cleveland’s Safety Director in 1935), Edmund Fitzgerald Porter (named after the freighter that sank during a storm on Lake Superior on November 10, 1975, with the loss of its entire crew of 29), and Ohio City Oatmeal Stout (named after the Cleveland neighborhood where the brewery is located). Other breweries have named beers after people, events etc. that have no connection with their community. For example, a number of breweries released beers to recognize the 50th anniversary of Neil Armstrong being the first human to set foot on the moon. These include Schlafly Brewery in St. Louis, MO who released their Lunar Lager variety pack. The pack included Lift-Off Lager, Apollo’s Orbit Black Lager, Moon Walk Dunkel, and The Eagle Has Landed American Lager.

Given the penchant of craft breweries to name beers after historically significant people or events, it should come as no surprise that the current Covid-19 pandemic has spawned several appropriately named beers. Here are some of the ones I came across while browsing the web.

Fauci Spring: Brewed by Wild Heaven Beer in Avondale, GA, this Açaí Pale Ale (ABV 4.25%) recognizes Dr. Anthony Fauci. As Director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Fauci has been a critical member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force. Most evenings he appears on our television screens during the daily Task Force Press briefings.

Don’t Stand So Close To Me: In efforts to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 and flatten the curve we are all encouraged to maintain our social distance (six feet) from other people. Social distancing has provided inspiration for several new brews. The aforementioned Wild Haven Beer have produced a German-style Lager which they called Don’t Stand So Close To Me, a German-style Lager.

Social Distance: Brewed by Hop Springs in Murfreesboro, TN Social Distance is another beer that encourages people to keep at least six feet apart. Part of the profits from this Tennessee Ale (think a hoppier Hefeweizen) goes to support workers in the local hospitality industry who are not working because of Covid-19.

PPE: Many of us have become familiar with the acronym PPE. It stands for Personal Protective Equipment and refers to a variety of products such as face masks, gowns, gloves etc. that protect the wearer against infection. Much of the news during the Covid-19 pandemic has focused on the shortage of PPE. Water’s End Brewery of Lake Ridge, VA and Beltway Brewing of Sterling, VA have come together and collaborated to produce PPE, an IPA with an ABV of 6.4%. In the case of the beer, PPE stands for People Performing under Extreme Conditions. Six dollars of every six pack sold is contributed to the Inova Covid-19 Emergency Preparedness Fund. Inova is northern Virginia’s leading nonprofit healthcare provider.

Thank You Note: Brewed by Slow Pour Brewing Company of Lawrenceville, GA, Thank You Note is an IPA. Any frontline worker (nurses, doctors, truck drivers, grocery store clerks etc.) are able to stop by Slow Pour’s tasting room and, with an ID, can get a free six-pack of the beer. This beer is a true Thank You Note to frontline workers who are working so hard, often under stressful conditions, during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Stir Crazy: During the stay-at-home orders issued by most states, many of us went a little stir crazy right. Recognizing this reality, Boomtown Brewery of Los Angeles, CA are brewing a Hazy IPA named Stir Crazy. It has an ABV of 7%.

For The Front Line: Harpoon Brewery in Boston, MA has released a an IPA (ABV 5%) that it is calling For The Front Line. The beer is, in fact, a re-release of its Harpoon Ale, which it first brewed back in 1986. A portion of the profits made from selling the beer will  be donated to charities in both Boston and Vermont that support frontline and hospitality workers.

Donate To Service Industry Workers By Drinking This Beer: This is perhaps the Covid-19 inspired beer with the longest name – Donate to Service Workers by Drinking This Beer. Brewed by Hi-Wire Brewing of Asheville, NC this IPA (ABV 5%) gets straight to the point. Sales of this beer will  benefit unemployed hospitality workers in both North Carolina, as well as in other parts of the country. Hi-Wire will donate some of the profits to the USBG National Charity Foundation and the North Carolina Restaurant Workers Relief Fund.

FVCK COVID: Ale Asylum in Madison, WI leaves you in no doubt about how they feel about Covid-19. Their new beer, FVCK COVID, a Pilsner (ABV 4%), conveys a straightforward message. Some of the profits from the beer will go to support health care workers at local hospitals, as well as unemployed hospitality industry workers.

Lifesavers and National Heroes: Covid-19 inspired beers are also appearing on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. The London Beer Factory in London, UK have brewed two beers that honor frontline workers who work for Britain’s National Health Service (NHS). Lifesavers is an American Pale Ale (ABV 4.2%) while National Heroes (ABV 4.0%) is a Lager. The revenue from the sale of both beers are going to two London hospital charities. Revenue from Lifesavers will benefit the King’s College Hospital Charity and Guy’s Hospital Charity.

All Together: Finally, there is All Together, a worldwide brewing initiative organized by Other Half Brewing Co. who have breweries in Brooklyn, NY and Rochester, NY. Other Half came up with the simple idea of getting breweries all over the world to use the same recipe to brew the same beer (All Together). Some of the monies generated from the beer support local hospitality workers, while some is retained by the brewery to help them get through this difficult period. As stated by Other Half Brewing Co., on their website:

“All Together is a worldwide, open-ended beer collaboration created to raise support for the industry we love so much. It’s an effort to raise awareness and provide relief, even in the smallest way, to those who are struggling. We’re inviting any brewer, from any corner of the planet to participate.”

Breweries wishing to participate can attain the recipe and artwork to produce the beer. As stated by Other Half Brewing Co. on their website, “the recipe is open source, the artwork is public, and the name is yours to use.” The recipe is intentionally flexible, so that brewers can produce either a New England IPA or a West Coast IPA. Literally dozens of breweries have taken up the challenge laid down by Other Half, and are producing All Together Beer. And it is not just breweries in the United States; craft breweries in Canada, New Zealand, Latin America, and Europe are participating. The name is inspired by the rallying call that, when it comes to Covid-19, we are all in this together.

Craft breweries across the United States, and in other countries, are struggling to sell enough beer to survive Covid-19. Some will not survive; indeed some have already permanently closed. Despite these challenges, the creativity and generosity of those working in the industry refuses to be squelched. I have written before about craft breweries (and distilleries) producing and distributing complimentary hand sanitizer to members of the general public and/or frontline workers. We also see this generosity manifest itself in the donation of monies from Covid-19 inspired beers. To some, such generosity in the face of economic adversity may be surprising. But to those of us who know and understand the craft beer community, recognize the fact that generosity is part of the DNA of those working in the craft brewing industry.