Queers and Beers Marks Milestone with New Brew from Proclamation

Rhode Island Queers and Beers is celebrating its third anniversary just as you might expect – with beer. Not just any beer, however: Proclamation Brewing Co. devised a special Queers and Beers brew, with a portion of proceeds supporting Youth Pride RI. Shannon Curley, who co-founded the LGBTQ community and social group with best friend Shaina Weintraub, says “We’ve hosted events at Proclamation before, so I got to chatting with the staff.” When the idea of a beer collab came up, the rest was history.

Despite the group’s name, Curley notes that “probably more than half of our members don’t really like beer,” prompting a unique request: “a beer that doesn’t taste like beer.” Proclamation delivered with Cuffing Season, a low-ABV, winter-inspired ale with pine and spruce notes. The playful name nods to the season of seeking cozy connections, a theme fitting for a group known for fostering meaningful relationships – Curley notes that both she and Weintraub met their significant others through the group.

Having evolved into more than a gathering for social drinking, Curley shares, “This summer we made a conscious decision to restructure Queers and Beers with a clear focus on community, with a vision of being a safe space for folks of all identities, backgrounds, and walks of lives to come meet some of ‘their people,’” Curley says. “This mission was important six months ago, but is even more so now as we head into the most politically nerve-wracking terms of our lives as LGBTQ folks.”

Along with gathering at breweries like Long Live Beerworks, Buttonwoods Brewery, and Proclamation, meetups are also held at small businesses like Troop, Riffraff Bookstore + Bar, Black Leaf, and Wild Colonial.

“We’ve hosted voter-education nights, movie screenings of queer-directed films, letter-writing sessions to trans youth, and fundraisers for community groups around Rhode Island, including Youth Pride RI, Haus of Codec, and SistaFire,” says Curley. She also hopes to see more collaborations and branded treats in the future, whether that means more craft beers or coffee and tea blends. “The more folks who see our name out there, the more folks will know that we exist – whenever and if ever they need us.” For more information, visit @queersandbeersofri.