13 Pride Beer Dabbler exclusive beers, and the Pride Icons who inspired them

At every Pride Beer Dabbler, we ask each of our participating breweries to bring at least one festival-exclusive beer that’s inspired by a “Pride Icon.” We love this theme because it encourages our attendees to learn more about the history of the LGBTQ+ community and their allies, plus it has the added benefit of helping our breweries to showcase their creativity!

This year, we reached out to a few of our participating breweries for a bit more info about their beers, and the fascinating people and culture that inspired these tasty beverages. Happy Pride Month!

Get your tickets to Pride Beer Dabbler 2022 here! 

Castle Danger Brewery

Pride Icon: The Wachowski Sisters (Film Directors)

Pride Icon Beer: Nebuchadnezzar Grapefruit IPA

Tasting Notes: Grapefruit, orange, citrus with a biscuit backbone.

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“With trans folks being vilified and legislated out of existence in my jurisdictions, it’s really important to showcase a successful role model for trans men and women.”

Dual Citizen Brewing Company

Pride Icon: Marsha P. Johnson (Activist)

Pride Icon Beer: Rodeo Queen

Tasting Notes: Notes of grapefruit, white peach and guava on the nose, pleasantly hoppy and refreshing. Sprinkled with love and Belma, Columbus, Strata, estate grown Comet & Idaho 7 hops.

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“Because Marsha P Johnson is a bad bitch. She was a pioneer in gay rights movements especially transgender rights, was involved in the Stonewall Riots and did it all with grace, poise and style.”

EastLake Craft Brewery

Pride Icon: Glenn Burke (Baseball Player)

Pride Icon Beer: High Five Alive

Tasting Notes: Inspired by the beverage of our youth, we juiced our current sour with extra fruit punch flavors, for five fingers of citrus deliciousness.

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“Glenn Burke was the first Major League Baseball player to come out as gay to his teammates and team owners. In 1977 he rushed onto the field to congratulate teammate Dusty Baker on his 30th home run. Glenn raised his hand and Dusty slapped it. It was the first documented high five.”

Fat Pants Brewing Co.

Pride Icon: Madonna (Pop Star)

Pride Icon Beer: Material Girl – Dazzling Pom Sour

Tasting Notes: Pomegranate forward, sweet & sour, electric & refreshing 

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“We chose Madonna because she is recognized as an LGBTQ+ icon largely in part due to the progressiveness in her music videos to include the empowerment of sexuality.”

The Freehouse

Pride Icon: Rocky Horror Picture Show (Movie)

Pride Icon Beer: Janet Weiss / Brad-ler -Grapefruit Radler

Tasting Notes: Fresh grapefruit, citrus, bready sweetness, effervescent, refreshing

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“We chose Rocky Horror Picture Show because it helped to bring attention to gender identity and sexuality at a time when it was often overlooked.”

Inbound Brew Co.

Pride Icon: Elton John (Singer-Songwriter)

Pride Icon Beer: Glitzy Shades

Tasting Notes: “Our flagship New England IPA features seven rounds of Amarillo, Citra, and El Dorado hops, so you know this beer has a delicious citrus, fruit flavor. This Hazy brew dials down the bitterness of a regular IPA and turns up the fruitiness. We took it a step further for Pride Dabbler and added even more fruit flavor with passion fruit, watermelon, cantaloupe, and strawberry flavors. This sweetens things up a bit and gives a beautiful rose-y color to our normally golden Hazy Shades.”

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“We chose Elton John because he is a prominent member of the LGBTQ+ community who has helped pave a way for other members in the both entertainment industry and in their personal lives. He came out in a time when it was very difficult to do so and has lived his life authentically in the public eye. We also admire and wanted to honor him for his contributions to HIV/AIDS related programs via his charity, the Elton John AIDS Foundation. 

What better way to pay homage to him while he’s on his farewell tour than with his signature look of over-the-top, tinted, glitzy glasses, which are the perfect accessory for our flagship New England IPA: Hazy Shades.”

Junkyard Brewing Company

Pride Icon: Dolly Parton (Singer-Songwriter)

Pride Icon Beer: 9-5 IPA,  A play off of Dolly Parton’s song, “Working 9-5”.

Tasting Notes: Tropical notes like pineapple, as well as dank, resinous notes

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“We chose Dolly Parton because she has been a long time activist for the LGBTQ community, and has used her platform to support the community.“

Lakes & Legends Brewing Company

Pride Icon: George Takei (Actor)

Pride Icon Beer: Oh My Takei Pecan Pie Lager

Tasting Notes: A light and slightly bready pilsner base complimented by notes of toasted pecan and a hint of vanilla.

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“As long time lovers of sci-fi, and George Takei being a long time leader in the LGBTQ+ community, it only felt right to choose him!”

Lupulin Brewing Company

Pride Icon: Slyvia Rivera (Activist)

Pride Icon Beer: Rainbow Revolution

Tasting Notes: Go back to your childhood with this infusion of Lupulin’s flagship hazy, Hooey, infused with raspberry, orange & lime sherbet

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“We chose Sylvia Rivera as we felt it was important to honor her as a pride icon for her tireless transgender rights activism and involvement with the Stonewall Inn uprising. This year has proven that this is still a fight we all need to continue together with all the anti-trans laws passing state legislatures.”

OMNI Brewing Co. 

Pride Icon: Elliot Page (Actor)

Pride Icon Beer: Viktor Hargreeves

Tasting Notes: Witbier with strawberries and vanilla

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“We chose our icon because we wanted to celebrate someone in the Transgender and non binary community and because their new show (Umbrella Academy – Season 3) comes out on Netflix a few days before the Pride Dabbler.”

Spiral Brewery

Pride Icon: Sir Ian McKellen (Actor)

Pride Icon Beers: Gandalf the Gray Black IPA, Gandalf the White Session IPA

Tasting Notes: 

Gandalf the White: The Spiral Session IPA was brewed using juicy, tropical hops which express delightful aromas of pineapple and mango and is well balanced by a malt backbone with notes of biscuit and caramel. This beer is light; it achieves a full body and packs plenty of flavor.

Gandalf the Grey: While it has similar roasty and chocolatey characteristics of a porter, it has a much lighter mouthfeel, and a refreshing west-coast hop aroma. The taste has notes of chocolate, toffee, pine, and stone fruit.

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“Besides being fans of Sir McKellen’s extraordinary talent on screen and on the stage, we value his activism and work in the LGBTQ+ community. Our team believes Sir Ian McKellen to be a beacon for authenticity.”

Steel Toe Brewing

Pride Icon: Nancy Sinatra (Pop Star)

Pride Icon Beer: “These Boots” IPA

Tasting Notes: “These Boots” IPA has aroma notes of fruit salad and a generous dry hop addition that brings tropical notes to the juicy deliciousness

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“We chose Nancy Sinatra, as her unapologetic nature paved a path for people of all walks of life to express their feelings and make their voices heard.”

Unmapped Brewing Co.  

Pride Icon: Britney Spears (Pop Star)

Pride Icon Beer: …Hazy One More Time

Tasting Notes: Peach is the most prominent flavor, with notes of berries, citrus, and passion fruit 

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“The brewers at Unmapped have a deep love of pop music and Britney has always been a go-to for us during the work day. Her music has something for everyone and the music video outfits are legendary; plus her support and advocate work for equal rights in the LGBTQ+ community is something we can all admire.”

Urban Growler Brewing Company 

Pride Icon: Commissioner Jan Malcolm (Minnesota State Health Commissioner)

Pride Icon Beer: Dazzle Me With Science – The Variant

Tasting Notes: A variant of the 2021 Dazzle Me With Science brew. A Hazy IPA with notes of banana, peach, and tropical fruit.

Why They Chose Their Icon:

“We honored CJM last year too. The reason- we are still in COVID days. She deserves endless kudos and appreciation from our state.”