3 minute read
LOST GROVE BREWING
PHOTO BY KAREN DAY
Leave the Right Footprint
By Darby Tarantino
With nearly 60 craft breweries in Idaho, there is certainly no shortage of frothy pints when you crave one, but finding a brewery who is B-Corp certified, certified carbon neutral, and who generously supports local nonprofits each month leaves fewer choices. Besides crafting a wide array of classic IPAs, hazy IPAs, porters, sours, and the most decadent barleywine, philanthropy has been at core of Lost Grove Brewing’s ethos since it opened in 2015. Born and raised in Boise, owner Jake Black grew up learning the values of charitable giving from his mother, who spent most of her career in the nonprofit sector and currently serves as the director of the Women’s and Children’s Alliance. Black helped start Payette Brewing in 2011 after earning a degree in restaurant hospitality, but always longed to make a larger impact and become a voice for his hometown nonprofits.
When Lost Grove Brewing opened, Black started Powerful Pints, one of many charitable programs they’ve implemented to partner with nonprofits throughout Idaho. Each quarter, Black selects an organization to support, donating $2 of each pint from a designated beer. The Idaho Wildlife Foundation, this quarter’s charity, will also receive a whopping 50% of proceeds during Powerful Pints Night, where the community comes together to learn more about the featured nonprofit and continue their support. Black estimates that they’ve raised over $150k for Idaho’s nonprofits since the program started. That’s powerful indeed!
Black’s plans to support the community through his philanthropic efforts are ongoing. He partnered with the Idaho Botanical Gardens to host the annual Shade City Brewfest, now entering its third year, where 50% of the event’s proceeds go to support the 42 acres of lush gardens. Always the weekend closest to Earth Day and 70s themed, Shade City Brewfest takes place on April 19-20, 2024.
Lost Grove Brewing employees are also encouraged to support their community by taking a paid day off to volunteer.
This initiative helped Lost Grove Brewing earn certification as a B Corporation in 2022, which means that their business meets the highest standards of performance, accountability, and transparency, including employee benefits, charitable giving, and sustainability. Lost Grove Brewing is one of only a handful of breweries in the country to hold this certification. So far, they’re Idaho’s first, continuously striving to improve their energy practices, becoming more sustainable each year by evaluating packaging concepts and recycling efforts. Black hopes that leading by example will encourage other organizations to follow suit.
Lost Grove Brewing has two locations: the Lusk District in downtown Boise and their newly opened location in Hyde Park. Try their Powerful Pint of the month or grab a cocktail and sample their extensive menu of beer-friendly food—their Hyde Park location has a full restaurant and bar! Don’t forget to round up your tab to the Powerful Pints charity of the month. It takes a community, and thanks to the generosity of Lost Grove Brewing, we can all do our part to make a difference and continue to leave the right footprint.
Visit lostgrovebrewing.com for location details and hours of operation.
