Amy Haneline • Indy Star
Giving back is as easy as sipping your favorite beer, wine or cocktail.
Want to help out animals? There is a local brewery, winery or distillery that wants to help out, too. Want to help teachers, veterans or the arts? A portion of sales from your purchase can help them, too.
Use this guide to find the causes you care most about, then go support those businesses that share your passion.
If you care about animals
1. Buy your dog a beer at Flat 12 Bierwerks
414 Dorman St., (317) 635-2337, flat12.me, @Flat12Bierwerks
What to drink: It's called Flat 12 Paws. Humans: don’t drink this. Flat 12 Bierwerks partnered with its neighbor, Smoking Goose, to create Indy’s first “dog brew,” a non-alcoholic beer made with meat trimmings, vegetables and brewer’s wort. Available for your canine friends periodically during the summer months.
How it helps? The brewery launched the Flat 12 Paws dog brew at its annual Dogapalooza pet adoption and shelter supplies drive. During the June event, you can buy your dog a pint, er bowl, of Flat 12 Paws, and proceeds go to local animal shelters.
Why? "This was really close to our hearts and came from an authentic place as everyone at Flat 12 is a dog owner, with many of them being rescues. ... What started as a fun, niche idea became a great opportunity for us to partner with a local Indiana organic business, our neighbors Smoking Goose. Like us, they practice sustainability through using resources that would have otherwise been thrown out and raise money for a charity we’re all really passionate about." — Valerie Green, marketing and events director
2. Drink beer and help animals at Metazoa Brewing Co.
140 S. College Ave., (317) 522-0251, metazoa.beer, @MetazoaBrewing
What to drink: Pick any brew. The brewery even has animal-themed brew names such as Giraffe Dance, an American hoppy pale, and Jackaroo, an English Dark Mild.
How it helps? Metazoa Brewing donates 5 percent of its profits to 12 different animal and wildlife organizations including Planet Bee Foundation, Save the Chimps, The Elephant Sanctuary and the Humane Society of Indianapolis.
Why? "My wife and I have always cared deeply for and donated to animal organizations, and with my love for beer and home brewing, it was a perfect match. Our new partnership with Endangered Species Chocolate is so exciting because not only do they donate to wildlife protection programs like us, but they also make an excellent product. ... We have a Chocolate Imperial Stout on tap called Cocoa Panthera that was brewed with ESC’s 88 percent Dark Chocolate. It’s truly a decadent way to drink beer and help animals." — Dave Worthington, president
3. Adopt a pet during Tails and Ales at Broad Ripple Brewpub
842 E. 65th St., (317) 253-2739, broadripplebrewpub.com, @brbrewpub
What to drink: Grab a pint of the brewery’s well-loved English Special Bitter at one of its ongoing Tails and Ales pet adoption events. Events are every other Thursday evening in May, June, September and October. You can even bring your own well-behaved dog.
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How it helps? Broad Ripple Brewpub partners with Move to ACT, and various animal rescue groups to find good homes for needy dogs, cats and even birds.
Why? "Many years ago some of our regular customers who rescued pit bulls asked if they could do a similar event in our parking lot, and everyone involved really enjoyed it and it felt good to be able to help. When they were no longer able to do it, our owner Nancy Hill made contact with Move to ACT and invited them to host events here. They were only too happy to oblige." — Billy Hannon, manager
If you care about cancer research
4. Grab a Pink Ribbon Saison from Triton Brewing Co.
5764 Wheeler Road, (317) 735-2706, and 915 Broad Ripple Ave., (317) 257-5604, tritonbrewing.com, @TritonBrewing
What to drink: Pink Ribbon Saison, 6.2 percent ABV, 19 IBUs. The farmhouse ale is brewed with pink and white peppercorns and coriander, making it both sweet and spicy. Available in spring and fall.
How it helps? A portion of the proceeds are donated to local and national cancer charities.
Why? "We at Triton Brewing have lost family and a number of very close friends to cancer. We wanted to establish a tangible way of bringing awareness to the disease and help provide support to organizations who help those stricken and their families and those who work to end the suffering by searching for a cure." — David Waldman, co-founder
If you care about the environment
5. Sip the BackCountry IPA at Bloomington Brewing Co.
1795 E. 10th St., Bloomington, (812) 331-BEER, bloomingtonbrew.com, @bloomingtonbrew
What to drink: BackCountry Session IPA, 4.7 percent ABV, 46 IBUs. This brew is lighter in alcohol content, but without giving up some bitterness. Available every summer.
How it helps? Bloomington Brewing Co. donates a portion of the profits from all sales of BackCountry Session IPA to the Indiana Forest Alliance and its mission to preserve and protect Indiana’s public forests.
Why? "There is no guarantee that Indiana’s forests will be here to be enjoyed and admired for our children’s children. The people at the Indiana Forest Alliance work tirelessly to protect Indiana’s state forests for future generations. Our Indiana forests cannot protect themselves. The IFA is their first line of defense, and BBC is proud to help support their work." — Jeff Mease, owner
6. Attend a Pints for Parks event at Flat 12 Bierwerks
414 Dorman St., (317) 635-2337, flat12.me, @Flat12Bierwerks
What to drink: Pick any beer during the brewery’s monthly Pints for Parks events. Go for the roasty Pogue’s Run Porter named, of course, after the creek and trail that runs through the east side of Indianapolis.
How it helps? During the events, $1 of every beer sold goes to support the Indianapolis Parks Foundation, which works to maintain the city’s parks system.
Why? "We’ve always been passionate about sustainability. We’re even moving towards canning the majority of our beer due to its smaller carbon footprint. So when the opportunity came along to partner with Indianapolis Parks Foundation, it just seemed like a natural fit. We see a lot of craft beer drinkers embracing an active lifestyle. Whether it’s our Thursday running club, our Saturday yoga or biking to the brewery, we know that our customers enjoy exploring the outdoors. And we’re happy we can do our part to help this amazing organization improve Indianapolis’ green spaces." — Sean O'Connor, CEO
If you care about education
7. Try any brew at Wasser Brewing Co.
102 E. Franklin St., Greencastle, (844) WASSER-1, wasserbrewing.com, @wasserbeer
What to drink: Pick a true-to-style beer from head brewer Chris Weeks’ “Abiding Traditions” series, or mix it up with something more creative from his “Artistic Innovations” line.
How it helps? Weeks is a former teacher who worked in some of the state’s less-fortunate school systems. His “2% for Teachers” program donates 2 percent of the brewery’s profits to help teachers and underfunded schools.
Why? "We (him and his wife, Angie Weeks) chose careers in education because teachers are in a unique position to change people's lives. I have been involved in great programs that truly helped people, but they were downsized or eliminated for fiscal reasons. So we will donate a portion of our profits to the 2 percent for Teachers program." — Chris Weeks, owner and brewer
8. Buy a book from Book and Brews
9402 Uptown Drive, Suite 1400, (317) 288-5136, and 65 Boone Village, Zionsville, (317) 344-0365, booksnbrews.com, @BooksBrews
What to drink: You don’t need to drink a thing! But you might want one of the brewery's ever-changing beers while you’re checking out Books and Brews' used bookstores attached to its Indianapolis brewery and Zionsville tap room.
How it helps? All of the books you’ll find at Books and Brews are donated by generous customers, keeping the prices low: $1 for any magazine or $3 for any book. The brewery donates 10 percent of the proceeds from every used book sale to Indy Reads, a local organization that helps promote literacy in Central Indiana.
Why? "The used bookstore actually came before the brewery. My wife and I are both English majors, and we had the vision that someday we would have a quaint little bookstore we could run. I developed my love for brewing and craft beer after college and felt that it was the perfect crossover for creative types who enjoyed reading, writing, music, games, craft beer, local food, etc. And when I opened Books and Brews, I wanted to make sure I got involved in the community. I believe it’s always important to have a cause and serve something more than just dollars and cents. When I heard about Indy Reads I knew it would be the perfect fit. They do great work providing programs for adult and family literacy in Indiana, and we’re just happy we can help in any way we can." — Jason Wuerfel, president
If you care about servicemen and servicewomen
9. Spend Veteran's Day at Hotel Tango Distillery
702 Virginia Ave., Indianapolis, (317) 653-1806, hoteltangowhiskey.com, @HotelTangoIndy
What to drink: Try any of its made-on-site spirits in a handcrafted cocktail, such as the classic Bloody Mary with Victor Vodka or a Hot Cider with Romeo Rum.
How it helps? Co-founder Travis Barnes is a veteran and served three combat tours as a recon Marine. The distillery donates to local veterans organizations throughout the year, and holds an annual fundraising event on Veteran’s Day. Last year, the event raised close to $15,000 for the Hoosier Veterans Assistance Foundation.
Why? "The brave men and women who voluntarily raise their hand to defend this country when wars arise should be the first ones taken care of by this country when they return home. As a veteran, I see the shortcomings of the government’s ability to properly care for its veterans. Hotel Tango is proud and humbled with the opportunity to help support veterans, where the government has gaps." —Travis Barnes, co-founder
10. Cheers a Hometown Hero with Triton Brewing Co.
5764 Wheeler Road, (317) 735-2706, and 915 Broad Ripple Ave., (317) 257-5604, tritonbrewing.com, @TritonBrewing
What to drink: Hometown Hero Golden Ale, 4.4 percent ABV, 16 IBUs. This beer is an American-style golden ale with not a lot of hops and not a lot of alcohol, so you can drink easy. Available year-round.
How it helps? A portion of the proceeds are given to local charities benefiting local heroes including veterans, police officers, firefighters and other emergency personnel.
Why? "We have a great deal of respect and admiration for the unsung heroes of the modern world, and we wanted to do something to recognize them. We have a great number of friends that fulfill these essential roles in our community, and we wanted to be able to give back a little to those that make the neighborhood safer each and every day." — David Waldman, co-founder
If you care about the arts
11. Pick the prettiest label at Mallow Run Winery
6964 W. Whiteland Road, Bargersville, (317) 422-1556, mallowrun.com, @mallowrun
What to drink: Look for wines from the Artist Series whose labels feature art from local artists. The latest is a dry white blend with a beautiful butterfly by Nadine Najjar. New wines are released every fall. The 2016 Artist Series wine and label will be revealed at a release event at the winery on Sept. 10.
How it helps? A portion of the proceeds from Mallow Run’s Artist Series wines will be donated to the Greater Greenwood Arts Council, which promotes local artists and art awareness.
Why? "A very important part of our business has always been to give back to our community and to use our resources to help strengthen the vibrant cultural fabric that continues to grow and be recognized in Johnson County. We are very supportive of the arts — visual, musical, literary, etc. — and really believe in the great work the Greater Greenwood Arts Council is doing in the community to bring programs and arts awareness. The arts are so important in any community. They create understanding, pride and identity, and we wanted to support those efforts." — Sarah Shadday, marketing and wholesale coordinator
If you care about everything
12. Visit the "Give Wall" at Peace Water Winery
37 W. Main St., Carmel, (317) 810-1330, peacewaterwinery.com, @peacewaterwines
What to drink: Any bottle of wine can make a world of difference. The North Coast rose named “Inspire” seems fitting.
How it helps? Buy any bottle of wine at Peace Water, and you’ll be given a token to take to the “Give Wall.” There, you’ll see eight charities selected by owners Scott and Laura Burton’s eight children. Put your token in the charity you would like to help. Peace Water Winery donates 50 percent of its profits to these causes.
Why? "The idea of giving back is actually what Peace Water Winery was founded on. We have been very fortunate on other business ventures and blessed with eight wonderful children. When we sold the latest business, we knew right away we wanted to do something give-back oriented for our next venture. Wine is such a great social activity and has been a part of civilization for thousands of years, so we thought that would be a perfect vehicle to help build a socially conscious business model around." — Scott Burton, owner
13. Support Sun King Brewing, support more than 400 charitable groups
135 N. College Ave., (317) 602-3702, and 7848 E. 96th St., Fishers, (317) 436-1926, sunkingbrewing.com, @sunkingbrewing
What to drink: Anything! You can always grab one of its year-round selections: Sunlight Cream Ale, Wee Mac Scottish-style Ale or Osiris Pale Ale. But don’t miss out on smaller batch brews at its Indianapolis or Fishers tasting rooms.
How it helps? Supporting Sun King means you are helping the brewery participate in 700 events a year and partner with more than 400 charitable groups. One of Sun King’s oldest partners is Freewheelin’ Community Bikes, a youth development organization that uses bikes to teach kids life and leadership skills and healthy habits.
Why? "Dave and I talked a lot about how to give back to the community when we were planning Sun King, so it has been a major focus since our inception. We're fortunate to be in a position where we can help our community partners raise money by selling beer at events and help share the message about the good work they are doing to make Indiana a better place." —Clay Robinson, co-founder
14. Tip the bar staff at MashCraft Brewing's GiveBack nights
1140 N. Ind. 135, Suite M, Greenwood, (317) 215-4578, mashcraft.com, @MashCraftBrews
What to drink: Go for a Java Red, and American Amber Ale brewed with coffee beans from nearby Strange Brew. Enjoy it during a MashCraft GiveBack night every third Wednesday of the month.
How it helps? During GiveBack nights, owner and head brewer Andrew Castner and his business partner, John Lee, bartend and give all of their tips to a local charity such as the Johnson County Library, Tails and Trails, Dress for Success and Habitat for Humanity, among others.
Why? "For us, it’s all about being members of the community. We want to be productive and collaborative. Part of that is helping groups in the community that do good things. Our MashCraft GiveBack events accomplish two goals: We are able to feature a group, usually locally, that we really think is doing good work, and it allows time for myself and business partner to hang out directly with our guests." — Andrew Castner, co-owner and brewer
15. Go mad in March with Daredevil Brewing Co. and Brackets For Good
1151 Main St., Speedway, daredevilbeer.com, @DaredevilBeer
What to drink: In the spring, look for a commemorative version of the brewery’s flagship Lift Off IPA donning a Brackets for Good logo, one of Daredevil Brewing Co’s charity partners.
How it helps? Daredevil Brewing Co helps raise awareness and is the official craft beer for the Indianapolis-based Brackets for Good. The annual online tournament of charities has helped raise millions of dollars for nonprofits in Indianapolis, Louisville, Ky., St. Louis, Minneapolis, and Ann Arbor, Mich.
Why? "We work with BFG primarily because it helps us amplify our philanthropic efforts and also because they were started right here in Indianapolis. By working with BFG we have the opportunity to impact hundreds of charities in communities that we do business. Working on our own it would be much harder to touch so many organizations and have such a large impact." — Shane Pearson, owner
Follow IndyStar reporter Amy Haneline on Twitter and Instagram: @amybhaneline, and on Facebook. Call her at (317) 444-6281.