THE HEART BEHIND LADY JUSTICE BREWING COMPANY
Lady Justice Brewing Company is much more than a taproom; it is a movement.
Queer-founded and woman-owned, the popular brewery launched in Denver in 2016 with a mission to make a difference through great beer. Owners, Betsy Lay, Kate Power, and Jen Cuesta were fundraising for a small nonprofit and were facing funding issues.
They wondered how they could fund their nonprofit, while still providing value for the community and creating an inclusive space? Betsy laughs as she says: “The simple question was, ‘How can we funnel our beer money into something good for the world?’”
The trio put their heads together and soon the idea for Lady Justice Brewing Company was brewed. It first operated as a small production-only facility where they used a custom-built homebrew system inside a storage space until they opened their taproom in March of 2020, right before COVID hit.
With the support of the community, specifically the LGBTQ+ community, they were able to make it through the pandemic and still provide a safe space for all… and then some.
“We are a social enterprise, meaning that our primary mission is to give back to our community,” explains Lay. “Being queer-founded, the LGBTQ+ community has always been a part of our story and mission. We try to focus and center our community in our work whenever possible, from collaborating with other queer-owned businesses to raising money for LGBTQ+ nonprofits.”
In fact, they’ve actually just surpassed $30,000 in giving to over 40 organizations, giving to nonprofits that align with their mission.
“We support via monetary donations, raising awareness, hosting Pride events, and through purveying a space of belonging in our taproom,” shares Lay.
Additionally, they provide volunteering opportunities, and lend the use of their space to host nonprofit events.
And we can’t forget the beer.
Their $125 Community-Supported Beer (CSB) Membership has its members paying an annual membership fee to receive exclusive member-only perks like four custom-brewed six packs, a free monthly pour, an invitation to their end-of-the-year party, amongst much more fun.
“We want folks to love our beer. We take a lot of pride in it. We also want folks to feel good about the fact that just by simply buying a drink, they can help make positive change in their communities,” shares Lay. “It’s all about giving people a chance to use their spending dollars for good.”
The heart of Lady Justice is inclusivity. “Representation matters,” shares Lay. “We want the LGBTQ+ community to walk into our taproom and know that they belong — we want them to know that this space was made for them.”
