COMMUNITY
IT TAKES A VILLAGE.
We nourish our community by treating our employees well; donating generously to environmental, educational, and social justice non-profits; and advocating for the interests of craft beer at every opportunity. Here are some of the other forms of our civic engagement:
POLICY LEADERSHIP
We hold leadership positions in several organizations whose mission is to advance the interests of craft beer, small business, and the manufacturing sector.
Brewers Association Government Affairs Committee
The Brewers Association is craft beer’s national association and Sara is a member of the GAC which advances policies and legislation at the federal level to protect and promote the craft beer sector. For example, in 2015 and 2016 our efforts have been directed primarily at reducing small brewers’ federal excise tax and ensuring our fair access to retail markets.
WA Brewers Guild Government Affairs Committee
The Guild promotes the interests of Washington craft beer at the state level through lobbying and outreach to state elected officials and the WA Liquor and Cannabis Control Board. We recently opposed an initiative to increase the state excise tax, promoted several bills to reduce regulatory red tape, and supported the campaigns of legislators who support our industry.
Washington Beer Commission
The WA Beer Commission puts on 6 festivals per year to promote WA craft beer and Matt was appointed to the commission in 2012 by Governor Jay Inslee.
Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce Board of Trustees, Policy and Leadership Committee
The PLC analyzes the impact of local policy initiatives on industry sectors in the Puget Sound region and recommends action to the Chamber’s Executive Committee. Sara is particularly focused on promoting the interests of small business and the manufacturing sector.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
Advocacy
We join forces with other members of the hospitality industry to raise money for good causes such as literacy, local food, conservation, and food banks.
Memberships
We are a member of several civic organizations including the Downtown Seattle Association, Greater Seattle Business Association, Fremont and Ballard Chambers of Commerce, and the North Seattle Industrial Association.
SUPPORTING THE LOCAL ECONOMY
We show our appreciation to our fine staff by offering competitive benefits such as a deeply subsidized healthcare plan and transit card; an employer-matched 401(k) plan; paid family leave, and more!
We hire local, independent contractors and services and purchase locally-made ingredients and equipment whenever possible. This might cost more but it strengthens our web of resiliency and interconnection.
We’re a Founding Member of the Seattle Good Business Network which promotes local, independently-owned businesses.
PAST PARTNERSHIPS
Pink Boots Society
Pink Boots Society is a national organization dedicated to empowering women beer professionals to advance their careers in the beer industry. We partner with them to sponsor the Fremont Brewing/Pink Boots Apprenticeship, a 5-week internship in all aspects of beer production. The successful applicant will receive a $2,500 living stipend and create a special batch of beer and brew it on March 8 for the world-wide International Women’s Day Collaboration Brew Day.
Supporting Our Veterans
We partner with baseball teams and other breweries to produce the Homefront IPA. It all started in 2011 when Mariners pitcher and home brewer Chris Ray approached Fremont to brew a special IPA with orange zest and aged on Louisville Slugger ™ bats. Once fermentation was complete, the bats were removed, signed by the team, and auctioned off. 100% of the proceeds were donated to Operation Homefront, a national non-profit that assists military families during difficult financial times by providing food, housing and other forms of assistance. Homefront IPA was so successful that we took the effort national, recruiting breweries across the county including Cigar City Brewing, Center of the Universe Brewing, 21st Amendment Brewing, Stone Brewing, St. Arnold Brewing, Maui Brewing, Perennial Artisan Ales, Left Hand Brewing, Sly Fox Brewing, Phoenix Ale Brewery and Palmetto Brewing. To date, Homefront IPA has raised over $700,000 for various veterans assistance organizations and Fremont Brewing donated $8,000 in 2016
Fremont Pride
We brew Pride Kölsch in celebration of Pride month and donate a portion of the proceeds to LGBTQ advocacy organizations.
Ales for ALS
We brewed a special beer to raise awareness about ALS (also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease) and donated $6,000 of proceeds to the ALS Therapy Development Institute in 2015
REQUEST A DONATION
Since our founding, Fremont Brewing has been proud to give back to our community by providing in-kind donations to nonprofits whose missions support our core values. Our beer has fueled the over-bidding at thousands of auctions and our branded merchandise has helped tip the fundraising scales at silent auctions.
We are taking our donation request form off our website at this time, as the COVID-19 outbreak has halted the nonprofit events which we usually support with in-kind donations of beer and merchandise. We empathize with all the non-profits struggling to stay afloat and deliver your crucial services. Together, we’ll get through this – Because Community Matters!