Bronx Brewery debuts new 'Defund the Police' beer, on sale in July

The announcement drew quick backlash, with some people vowing to never be patrons of the brewery ever again. Others praised the bold move.

News 12 Staff

Jun 20, 2020, 2:14 AM

Updated 1,547 days ago

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The Bronx Brewery plans to release a new beer next month called "Defund the Police."
The announcement drew quick backlash, with some people vowing to never be patrons of the brewery ever again. Others praised the bold move.
The Bronx Brewery says it is a place of inclusivity, community and creativity. So, with the movement taking hold worldwide, they knew they had to start having certain conversations.
"This wasn't a time to be silent, so we made a statement," says Bronx Brewery general manager Brandon Espinosa.
The establishment announced on social media its newest brew -- "Defund the Police." They say the campaign doesn't equate to being anti-police.
"It's the support of reallocating funds to invest in other community programs, youth programs, mental health programs," says Espinosa.
The post was met with criticism from some customers with tweets condemning the choice, like one reading, "I will never buy another beer from the Bronx Brewery. Period"
"We knew that going into this, and I think that just highlights the importance to have this dialogue and this conversation during these times," says Espinosa.
Co-founder and president Damian Brown says the name is striking a nerve similarly to how their pride beer "Some Like It Hopped" could have also offended some.
"That beer would've been exactly the same lightning rod if we were in this city 20 years ago, or if we lived in another part of the country," says Brown.
The brew will be released in July. The brewery says it will also pledge $1,000 to the nonprofit Communities United for Police Reform.