Downstreet Named Nonprofit Beneficiary in Vermont For Lawson's Finest Liquid's Cosmic Shift Initiative

Downstreet Housing & Community Development has been selected as Lawson’s Finest Liquids Vermont nonprofit partner for Cosmic Shift IPA, the Vermont brewery’s seasonal Good Brew for a Cause that turns beer sales into support for local communities.

This year, Lawson’s Finest is expanding the Cosmic Shift initiative across 12 states, partnering with 13 nonprofits and 19 wholesale partners to address one of the most pressing challenges facing communities throughout its distribution footprint: affordable housing.

Through the partnership, a portion of proceeds from every Cosmic Shift IPA sold in Vermont will benefit Downstreet, supporting its work to strengthen Vermont communities by creating permanently affordable homes, promoting equity and inclusion, and connecting people to the resources and services they need to thrive. Donations from Lawson’s Finest will be matched by Baker Distributing, the local distributor of Lawson’s Finest brews.

“A safe, stable, and affordable place to call home is the foundation of a strong community. Yet for too many of our neighbors in Central Vermont, affordable housing remains out of reach. At Downstreet, we know that meeting this challenge takes all of us working together. We’re grateful to Lawson’s Finest Liquids for turning something as simple as enjoying a local beer into an opportunity to make a meaningful difference in Vermont,” said Angie Harbin, Executive Director of Downstreet Housing & Community Development.

Alongside the re-release of the brew, beneficiaries across the 12 states will host events. Downstreet and Lawson’s Finest will host a public launch party on Wednesday, November 4 from 4-6pm at the Lawson’s Finest Taproom in Waitsfield. Follow-up events will happen across Central Vermont throughout November; the first of which will be at Pearl Street Pizza in Barre on November 10. Follow Downstreet on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram to learn more about upcoming events. 

Lawson’s Finest selected affordable housing as this year’s Cosmic Shift focus after surveying its 80+ team members about the issues they cared most about within the brewery’s four giving priority areas. Affordable housing emerged unanimously as the top concern. Across the 12 participating states, nonprofit partners are tackling the issue from multiple angles, from building and managing affordable housing units, helping families access emergency shelter and permanent homes, as well as advocating for more affordable and equitable housing policies.

Last year, Cosmic Shift raised $36,436 for 10 nonprofits across nine states. This year, the program is expanding into additional markets, including Virginia, North Carolina, and Colorado, while bringing its nonprofit partners together around a shared issue for the first time.

“Good Brews for a Cause grew out of a simple idea: brew great beer and use it to do good,” said Sean Lawson, founder of Lawson’s Finest Liquids. “Cosmic Shift has allowed us to take that idea even further, turning this brew into a way to support organizations doing meaningful work across our distribution footprint. This year, we’re proud to bring our partners and fans together around affordable housing, an issue our team cares deeply about and one that impacts communities everywhere our beer is sold.”

Cosmic Shift will be available for sale in locations across Vermont beginning on November 1st. To learn more about Cosmic Shift, click here.