Available, for six-weeks only, Georgetown Brewing Company releases Manny's Pale Ale with 100% of proceeds going to support the food and beverage industry.
image of Manny’s Pale Ale courtesy Georgetown Brewing Company
Depending on which generation you represent, you probably had a beer that spoke to you. For the post-War era engineers at Boeing it was probably Rainier or Olympia, Lucky Lager, or Heidelberg. For those who raged against the times, it was probably Rainier, Olympia, or more recently the likes of Redhook or Pyramid Ales. But for those who grew up in the hyper-kinetic, post-Dotcom era, it was more than likely Manny’s.
Conceived in 2002 by two aspiring independents, Georgetown Brewing Company took root in the husk of one Rainier Brewing Company’s warehouses in the historic Georgetown neighborhood. Started as the antithesis of older craft brands, like Redhook, Mac & Jack’s, or Pyramid the duo launched their first beer - Manny’s Pale ale. With an eye towards expanding their name and brewery capacity, the boys set out to sell their draft-only, American-style Pale Ale, to bars and restaurants throughout the city of Seattle.
Then something remarkable occurred, Manny the beer named after one of Georgetown’s founders, became the identity of the brewery. With its balance of classic Northwest hops and malts, Georgetown Manny’s Pale Ale became known simply as Manny's. Everywhere you went, someone would utter “give me a Manny’s” or “two pitchers of Manny’s”. From there, demand grew for this beer, both in growlers at their ad hoc brewery gift shop or on draft at food and beverage destinations throughout the city. Today, there isn’t a public house, ballpark, or hotel lounge that isn’t serving Manny’s.
Photo of Manny’s at T-Mobile Park/The Northwest Beer Guide™
However, throughout the history of Georgetown, the brewery has remained humbled throughout their steady progression from growlers and kegs, to cans and bottles, or from a modest takeaway location to a taproom where people can relax and taste. But the one thing that has never changed was Manny’s Pale Ale, a beer that literally has made a name for itself, remained a beer exclusive to growlers or kegs. Sure, you can get six-packs of Bodhizafa, Johnny Utah, Lucille, or Rogers, but you couldn’t get Manny’s Pale Ale. Each time, the brewery had this to say why Manny’s wasn’t available.
When we started canning beer at Georgetown Brewing, we figured leaving Manny’s Pale Ale as a draft-only beer would help us stay connected to the foundation of our business: the bars and restaurants that first served our beer. If you want a pint of Manny’s, you have to go out, be social and support your local bar or restaurant. That’s why, for our first 14 years in business, we only sold kegs. It was also our excuse to drink beer at bars and call it “work”.
Owing to their success both in the beginning and today, Georgetown Brewing Company’s ownership, staff, and brewers have done something unheard of - selling six-packs of Manny’s Pale Ale.
image sourced from Georgetown Brewing Company’s Twitter account/
That’s right, if you’ve enjoyed growlers, crowlers, or kegs of Manny’s Pale Ale but wished you could have something more portable, much smaller, and shareable, Georgetown Brewing Company is happy to oblige. However, this announcement should be treated with restraint and inspiration. As part of a fundraising effort, Georgetown Brewing is donating proceeds generated from the sale of Manny’s six-packs to the food and beverage industry.
Now, more than ever, your local bar and restaurant needs your help. They have always been there for you. They have fed you, they have provided shelter, they have kept you hydrated… and your favorite bartender has listened to every one of your stupid stories. It’s time to return the favor.
100% of our profits from the sale of Manny’s cans will go to support bar and restaurant workers throughout the state of Washington.
In recognizing those who have lost their job, the brewery is helping. By recognizing those who are working in conditions where literally their lives and the lives of their friends and families might be altered, the brewery is showing it cares. It starts by you supporting Georgetown by visiting their taproom or wherever you see canned Georgetown beers. It continues as Georgetown Brewing Company donates 100% to charities Big Table, The Plate Fund, and We Are Yakima.
Throughout this process, the brewery wishes to say this regarding those who helped them get enough cans, enough malt and hops, through donation or sourcing, or distribution. In fact, when asked to share their thoughts, the brewery said this.
An undertaking like this doesn’t happen without partners, and we have a lot to thank:
The generosity of Great Western Malting, Hollingbery & Son Hops, Hopsteiner and Roy Farms was vital to this project, whether through the sourcing and donation of ingredients, or cash contributions.
Getting cans and packaging made is not a fast process - it takes time, and the speed with which this project was turned around cannot be overstated. We’d like to give Crown Beverage and Packaging and WestRock a huge shoutout for their ability to fast track this project in their facilities, especially during a time when they are already slammed due to increased demand.
And our distributors - the folks that are the reason you can get our beer somewhere besides the brewery: Columbia Distributing, Columbia Wenatchee, Crown Distributing, Midway Beverage, Pioneer Distribution and Tripp Distributing. They all stepped up to not only get the beer in stores quickly, but are donating all or a portion of profits.
With a limited, six-week run, planned for this beer release, look for this beer starting May 23rd (at the brewery taproom) and May 27th (in stores).
For more information, visit https://georgetownbeer.com/ or follow them on social media, listed on their website.
