The Lab Releases ‘Black Is Beautiful’ Black IPA Benefiting Meda in Support of BIPOC-Owned Businesses

The Lab-Pilot Facility & Taproom has released its ‘Black is Beautiful’ Black IPA with 100% of proceeds benefiting Metropolitan Economic Development Association (Meda), a Minnesota nonprofit that provides business consulting, access to capital, and market opportunities for BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) entrepreneurs.

The Lab joins more than 1,000 breweries worldwide making beer under the shared label, Black is Beautiful (blackisbeautiful.beer), with sales benefiting organizations that support equality and inclusion. The initiative was developed by Weathered Souls Brewing Company in San Antonio, Texas, to raise awareness of the injustices people of color face daily.

“We are honored to join the brewing community to raise awareness and support for organizations working for change and inclusion,” said Janet Johanson, Founder of The Lab. “Meda’s work building thriving communities through equal economic participation aligns with our passion for business and entrepreneurship as a force for positive change.”

Founded in 1971, Meda has served more than 20,000 BIPOC businesses in various capacities, including organizing mergers and acquisitions and obtaining financing. Meda has been named the top-performing Minority Business Development Agency in the country by the U.S. Department of Commerce for the past four years.

“We are excited to join The Lab in raising awareness for Meda and the incredible entrepreneurs we serve,” said Ellie Hughes, Fund Development Manager at Meda.

The Lab’s Black is Beautiful Black IPA is a strong dark ale packed with striking fruity and citrus hops.

“We love using our creativity to expand on great ideas,” said Matt Hall, Director of Innovation and Pilot Services at The Lab. “Creating a black IPA is our way of honoring the original concept with a new spin.”

The beer is available on tap in The Lab’s taproom and in crowlers for carryout. Visit TheLabMN.com for taproom hours and online ordering information. To learn more about the Black Is Beautiful Initiative, check out blackisbeautiful.beer.

The Lab
The Lab—Pilot Facility and Taproom offers an alternative to traditional taprooms with an interactive drinking experience featuring never-before-tasted alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages created by innovative makers. The Lab gives customers exclusive access to products before they’re released, so they can be the first to try new beverages by a variety of inventive makers. Customers can even provide feedback to influence the final products. The Lab is brewing the beverages of tomorrow for the adventurous drinkers of today. Visit TheLabMN.com to see what’s on tap now.

Meda
The mission of Metropolitan Economic Development Association (Meda) is to help BIPOC entrepreneurs succeed. Meda’s vision is thriving communities through equal economic participation. Through its three main accelerator services, Meda provides the tools and resources crucial for business scaling, including: access to capital, access to trusted business advising, and access to contracts. Learn more at meda.net.