Five Wits Brewing Company is releasing a stout with a cause on Fri., Sept. 18. The Black is Beautiful stout is part of a bigger initiative started by Weathered Souls Brewing Co. in San Antonio, Texas.

The idea was to make a stout following a base recipe and ask every brewery participating to add their own flair. Once released, 100% of the proceeds are to go to a local organization (brewer’s choice) that supports equality + inclusion. This initiative has made its way into over 1,100 breweries around the world.

In Chattanooga, Hutton & Smith and Naked River have already released the stout, and now Five Wits is ready to tap their kegs. This particular stout is roasty from coffee + malts and barrel-aged in Chattanooga Whiskey barrels, so there are layers of oak and vanilla. It was brewed with a Rwandan blend coffee from Color Coffee Roasters in Eagle, CO — adding hints of plum jam and candied ginger — unsweetened cocoa, and lactose for a smooth mouth feel.

Five Wits will be donating 100% of the proceeds from this stout to the TN ACLU + the Michael James Jackson Foundation for Brewing & Distilling.

Note: Not that Michael Jackson. This MJ was a profound beer and whiskey writer, and the core mission of the MJJ Foundation for Brewing & Distilling is to advance technical education and facilitate career opportunities for people of color within these industries in the US.

Five Wits is committed to serving the community, and this isn’t the first time they have donated proceeds from a beer to a nonprofit organization. The most recent release was the Sofa Love IPA which was made in partnership with Chattanooga Furniture Bank. They also have plans to work with TN State Parks, the SCC, SORBA, and McKamey Animal Center.

Cheers to giving back, y’all. 🍻