People paying attention know that I have allied with our local marketing company https://www.towncriermarketing.ca Hive account@town-crier and invested much of my time helping the community through a crisis. Time for a massive shout out to a fantastic local business with a great leader who also happens to make a wonderful brew!

Source:https://www.pinterest.pt/goldensaintbeer/ with a little Zeke design on top.

While life as a Beerologist has definitely taken a huge left turn, breweries and their product continue to play a part in the community as we band together to get through. @town-crier/community-collaboration-for-front-line-health-heroes We have been telling the story where we delivered over 60 hot dinners to front line healthcare workers in chapters so that each of our partners got the recognition that is due. I insisted that I get to tell the story of one of those partners who just happens to be one of my favourite local breweries, https://www.blackswanbrewing.ca

Regulars on my Beerology blog will recall this logo and my love for Black Swan from past stories. When it came to working together again and deliver dozens of hot meals to long-term care workers and paramedics while supporting local restaurants in one fell swoop, my buddy Ryan was in from the second text (the one with the details in it as he IS a business owner.) What can we do? How many meals can Black Swan purchase? Do you need help doing he delivery?

Here we are, assembling the delivery safely on carts after Ryan had picked his portion up at https://revival.house and joined myself and Tracy from https://whatshappeningstratford.ca

Through our combined efforts, we were able to load 60 3-course meals onto our train and wheel them up to the double doors where Joyce and the staff were waiting. Not only was he happy to purchase many of these meals on behalf of his brewery, he jumped at the chance to take a break from beer deliveries to team up with us and show some support for the wonderful and dedicated team at Greenwood Court https://www.tcmhomes.com/greenwood-about.php

As far as brewing and retail operations go, there has been some heavy flexing and improvisation for a brewery as you might well expect. Some businesses simply cannot open, others have their heads down and are waiting from instruction from the government, while the crew at Black Swan have adapted bravely. Same day delivery is available in the area, only 1 person is permitted in the retail location at once, and I would imagine production has switched primarily to cans as establishments who normally order by keg are closed.

Here, we have a selection of India Pale Ale, English Pale Ale and Road Trip ale that was delivered to one of the aforementioned fancy restaurants to include with the take-out/delivery orders.

Reciprocating The Support!

Along with the team at Hive account@town-crier, I am a proponent of breweries in general, but also in local business, leadership and community involvement. So, we have purchased a good amount of gift certificates from the brewery to kill a couple birds with one stone. First, we want to make sure the money goes back into the businesses, especially the ones being driven by such a community-supporting team. Second, we are going to turn these back around to other community leaders out there, fighting it out, and supporting everyone who is part of the solution, or needs help. A nice shirt, mug or hat (read: 6-pack!) may help at the end of a long day and you deserve it.

While I let Hive account@town-crier pick the recipients of these certificates, I am glad to have teamed up with Black Swan to reward the front line heroes and support restaurants valiantly battling for their existence. Standing up and being part of the solution is what leaders do, and Black Swan is apparently brewing leaders as well as one hell of a fine IPA!

Stay safe and suddsy my friends. CHEERS!

I am honoured to curate for:

Thanks for the support and stay tuned for more Covid-19 stories of beer, community and victory!