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Brewery responds to anti-drag threats by releasing ‘Big Gay Beer’
Texas-based Brewtorium Brewery has responded to an anti-drag bomb threat by releasing a “Big Gay Beer” and donating the proceeds to a pro-LGBTQ+ group.
The decision followed the brewery receiving a bomb threat for hosting a drag brunch this summer with all proceeds going towards an organisation advocating for LGBTQ+ equality.
A spokesperson for Brewtorium Brewery and Kitchen wrote in a Facebook post: “In response to the bomb threat we received at June’s Legendary Drag Brunch with Las Ofrendas that forced us to have to cancel the event, our staff got together and decided to brew the biggest gayest beer we could possibly imagine to show our continued commitment to being a safe place for queer people and all good, kind and loving individuals in our city.”
The spokesperson explained that the “Big Gay Beer” is an 8.7% ABV “super strong hazy double IPA fruited to the max with pink guava, orange and mango. It’s a thick one with bright notes of tropical fruit, candied orange peel and ruby red grapefruit”.
All proceeds from the new beer will to go to Veterans for Equality, an organisation dedicated to giving marginalised groups protection at events. The organisation has previously worked with Brewtorium for its own events following the drag brunch bomb threat.
The bomb threat had initially led to the brewery being closed in response, with the person explicitly naming drag queens as the reason, referring to them with hate language.
Investigations followed, with nothing suspicious being found inside the brewery building, with authorities assuring that it was clear. Despite this, according to LGBTQ Nation, the threat still left a lasting impact on the local community.
Speaking about the incident at the time, a Brewtorium spokesperson said: “For the safety of everyone in the building, we felt our best option was to close for the day. It breaks our hearts that this kind of thing still exists.”
Despite the threats, the brewery however did give a shout out to its partners who had supported the business amid the crisis.
The spokesperson added: “We want to give a special shout out to our Legendary Drag Brunch partners Las Ofrendas, Frida Friday ATX, Kelly Kline , DJ Kick It without whom these joyful events would not be possible.”
The threat came at a time where drag performers across the US have begun to face an increasing risk of hate crimes, which according to reports, have been steadily increasing in the country over the past few years, alongside anti-drag and anti-LGBTQ+ bills being introduced in many states.
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