An Urban Beer Embraces a Great Urban Park
City Wide American Pale Ale Selects Forest Park Forever as a 2019 Community Partner
Beer is one of the few things that has been part of St. Louis life and culture longer than Forest Park — so it makes perfect sense that 4 Hands Brewing Co. has chosen Forest Park Forever as a third-quarter 2019 recipient of its City Wide American Pale Ale community partnership program.
Throughout July, August and September, Forest Park Forever will receive $1 for the equivalent of each case of City Wide sold. (The beer is available in cans only in St. Louis, but it is served on tap in all of 4 Hands’ markets nationwide.)
“City Wide is our beer that gives back to the community,” says Liz Swyers, marketing manager for 4 Hands Brewing Co. “It’s not just an awesome beer but a platform for us to be part of the community.”
City Wide has been part of the brewery’s lineup since 2016.
“Kevin's vision was to create a beer with a mission,” Swyers says. “The team decided that the way to do that was to collaborate with non-profits through out St. Louis and be able to give back a portion of proceeds to them.”
Since its founding, the City Wide program has benefited a wide range of St. Louis charities. To date, 4 Hands Brewing Co. has distributed over $175,000 to more than 15 nonprofits.
“Each year we work with our quarterly nonprofits to collaborate on ways to work with each other in the community,” Swyers says. “From volunteering for our nonprofits to supporting fundraisers being held to hosting events, there are many ways we learn from each other and get to know each other better. Creating friendships or enhancing relationships with our organizations is one of our favorite things about our City Wide mission.”
Pride St. Louis was a recipient in the second quarter of 2019. Another previous recipient was Unleashing Potential, a St. Louis nonprofit that builds on kids’ strengths to close the opportunity gap for children and youth. And Swyers says the team always likes to include a park.
“Most of the 4 Hands Team are local St. Louisans. We love the St. Louis traditions that Forest Park brings to this community," she explains. “At Forest Park, we were especially drawn to Forest Park Forever’s mission of sustainability.”
One way 4 Hands Brewing Co. practices sustainable business practices itself is by giving its wort — a byproduct of the brewing process — to local farmers to use as fertilizer. However, the brewery has a much bigger understanding of “sustainability.”
“Our City Wide Pils beer benefits St. Louis small businesses, entrepreneurs, and work spaces the same way City Wide American Lager benefits nonprofits,” says Swyers. “We want to be a brand that contributes to the growth and success of St. Louis.”
Their commitment to Forest Park through the City Wide program goes beyond the donation of cash. Before deciding to make Forest Park Forever the recipients of the City Wide program, Swyers and a teammate toured the Park with Senior Vice President of Development & Community Initiatives John O’Gorman. All three of them started to think about the future.
“We have enjoyed the support of the St. Louis’ brewing community for many years, and we are excited about the 2019 support of City Wide,” says O’Gorman. “Brewing one beer that gives back, especially to nonprofits in the city, is a great idea.”
For O’Gorman, the partnership may even lead to some team-building opportunities for Forest Park Forever team members.
“I know other nonprofits who’ve participated in the program enjoyed some fun events at the brewery,” he says. “Forest Park Forever is thrilled when businesses like City Wide reach out to us. It lets us excite people about the Park while the businesses excite people about their products.”
“The team is really excited to be supporting Forest Park Forever,” adds Swyers. “This spotlight will help keep City Wide successful and fresh while we help sustain Forest Park as a landmark of St. Louis.”
To kick-off the third quarter of the City Wide 2019 program, Forest Park Forever and 4 Hands Brewing Co. will be holding an Instagram contest. Click below for your chance to win swag perfect for a City Wide picnic in the Park!