New Belgium Brewing Company

AIDS/Lifecycle Cyclist stands beside New Belgium Brewing Company Logo.

AIDS/Lifecycle Rider, Tony Eason sponsored by New Belgium Brewing Company, Fort Collin, Colorado.

Years ago, I mailed AIDS/Lifecycle sponsorship packets to the New Belgium Brewery Company, Anchor Brewing, and SpeakEasy Ales & Lagers (to name a few).

Weeks later, I concluded the companies must be “way to busy” to assist a cyclist with raising $3,000.00 for a cycling charity event. And therefore, I continued with my yoga training, bake sales, flower sales, cycling, and general fundraising.

Yet 72 hours before departing on my annual 575 mile bike ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles, I received an email from New Belgium Brewing Company of Fort Collins, Colorado.

New Belgium informed me that they would be honored to join forces with the San Francisco AIDS Foundation & The Gay & Lesbian Center of Los Angeles in the fight against the AIDS Pandemic.

And in reply, I informed New Belgium Brew Meister, Jamie Mastin:“With 72 hours left before my departure, now may not be the optimal time for me to party.”

In response, Jamie Mastin sent a case of Fat Tire Beer to my finish line (the LAX Marriot Hotel). And upon my arrival back to San Francisco, New Belgium sponsored an ‘AIDS/Lifecycle VICTORY PARTY!!!!”

Since that initial contact, Brew Meister’s Jamie Mastin & Ed Dopman of the New Belgium Brewery of Fort Collins, Colorado have continued to kindle environmental and cultural change as a business role by supporting myself & the San Francisco AIDS Foundation’s desires to educate, advocate, and provide direct services for communities most vulnerable to the AIDS Pandemic.

AIDS/Lifecycle New Belgium Brewery Event Flyer
AIDS/Lifecycle Fund Raising Event with New Belgium Beer

New Belgium Brewing Company:

History and Origins

New Belgium Brewing Company was founded in 1991 in Fort Collins, Colorado, by social worker Kim Jordan and her husband, Jeff Lebesch. The enterprise famously grew out of the basement of their home, inspired by a transformative bicycle tour through Belgium that influenced their brewing style.
Over the decades, New Belgium expanded its geographic footprint and operational scale:
  • 2016: Opened an additional brewing facility in Asheville, North Carolina.
  • 2022: Joined forces with Bell’s Brewery.
  • 2023: Expanded production capabilities to Daleville, Virginia.
Known widely for its flagship beer, Fat Tire Amber Ale, as well as the popular Voodoo Ranger IPA series, New Belgium has grown into one of the largest craft brewing companies in the United States. The company pioneered progressive corporate practices, establishing an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) in 1998 and achieving Certified B Corporation status in 2013 for meeting stringent environmental and social governance standards.

Key Dates & Timeline

  • 1991: Founded in Fort Collins, CO, by Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch.
  • 1995: Launched its core philanthropic initiative, setting aside funding per barrel sold.
  • 1998: Established an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) to share business ownership with workers.
  • 2008: Became the first brewery to join the 1% for the Planet network, committing a portion of sales to environmental protection.
  • 2013: Earned official Certified B Corporation status.
  • 2016: Expanded operations with a second major brewery in Asheville, North Carolina.
  • 2022: Partnered and joined forces with Bell’s Brewery.
  • 2023: Extended operations to Daleville, Virginia.

Charity and Community Events

Rooted deeply in a “business as a force for good” ethos, New Belgium has maintained a robust philanthropic program since its early years.
  • The “$1 Per Barrel” Giving Model: From the early 1990s onward, the company committed a portion of revenue from every barrel sold to support nonprofit causes. To date, New Belgium has donated more than $31 million to address critical social and environmental challenges.
  • Grant Focus Areas: Philanthropic contributions target major focus areas including climate action, water conservation and watershed stewardship, sustainable agriculture, smart transportation, bicycle advocacy, social equity, and community health.
  • Grassroot Grants & Employee Involvement: Through localized grassroots grants and internal committees, employees actively participate in directing funds to regional organizations. Coworkers are also granted paid volunteer time off and financial support for “volunteer vacations”.
  • Community-Facing Events: The brewery regularly hosts and sponsors community engagement initiatives—such as local run clubs, trivia nights, open mic events, sustainability swap series, outdoor line dancing, and major local athletic events like the Horsetooth Half Marathon—turning its physical locations into dynamic spaces for local connection.

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