‘Gracias’: A beer to thank doctors and nurses fighting COVID-19 in Chihuahua
El Gardenia, a microbrewery in the northern Mexican state of Chihuahua, is giving away 6,000 bottles of a commemorative beer called “Gracias” to express gratitude to health care workers in the region.
“It was something that came from the heart,” said El Gardenia’s co-founder, Danny Muñoz. “It is not easy to just give away those 6,000 bottles, because no one has a surplus of money.”
The beer is a blonde ale, described by Muñoz as “a very good beer, easy to drink, very clean, something that has a light taste and can be enjoyed by anyone.” The idea is that the beer might help refresh doctors and nurses. El Gardenia has already shipped a load to the central hospital in Chihuahua, and they will finish the delivery this week.
From idea to action
Muñoz takes a deep breath and explains how the idea was born: “The idea came one day while we were having some chelas, and we were evaluating the COVID contingency, then we realized that those who bear the heaviest load, those who are on the front line treating sick people, are doctors, nurses and health personnel. You have to love your profession to put your life at risk for others. We were all aware that we didn’t have too much work because we couldn’t open the bar, everything was closed, and even the beer we distributed in other states was for bars, so, if they don’t open, they can’t sell our product.”
“We decided to produce a commemorative beer to say thanks to all the medical personnel who are engaging in an act of bravery and risking their lives to contain the situation,” he said.
Challenges
“We had enough supplies, because the suppliers have a lot of stock, since, at this time, there is no one buying to produce. Most of the breweries’ clients are bars, and they are closed, so they cannot sell. In fact, it was of some help that there wasn’t draft beer available. People who really wanted to have something to drink only had the artisan option, and now people know it,” Muñoz said.
Muñoz said cleaning and avoiding the virus was not a problem: “In order to brew around 1,200 liters, only two people are required: One is cleaning all the time and the other is handling the machinery, and you have to keep in mind that cleaning is the most important focus when you’re brewing. Having the best recipe isn’t the only thing. Cleaning is a good habit we practice, and we were not exposed in any way.”
A gift from the heart
“We think that everything is connected,” he said. “If I have some savings and I buy from the supplier, he pays his suppliers, and so on. Therefore, our ideology is that, if I have, I can help you, and if at some point, God forbid, I don’t have, maybe you can help me. It means paying it forward. That’s what we wanted to do with doctors and nurses; they help all of society. If we had more money, we would be shipping free beer to the whole country, but we started with the hospitals in Chihuahua. We believe a bit in karma and, even though we don’t think much about it, when you do good, it bounces back. Maybe we will have great things coming in the future.”
The brewery
“We started the brewery project in 2013,” he said. “We bought some stuff. We actually started operating one year ago, in June 2019. Our place, the building, it’s from the beginning of the 20th century, so it is really old. We tried to keep most of what we could, some had to be discarded, other things were rescued. It took some time to get it completed.”
“We started brewing last year and we planned to open to the public in general, and to distribute to all of Mexico,” he continued.
“We still want to open the bar to the public. We will have a bar, with different mixology, a coffee bar with a great barista, beer and a very extensive food menu. This is a place with a family environment, where you can bring your children. The other half of the place is to produce our own beer,” he said.
“We have 14 fermenters in which we can produce some 13,000 liters per month, and we have a wide variety of beers, many are our own recipes. We have 33 brands, many stouts, Polish drafts, a double milkshake IPA and, in three months, we have prepared around 35 types of beer.”
Muñoz said, “It is important to say that the bottle has a special design and that it is screen printed. That increases the cost, but it is worth it because it becomes a collectible. It is an item designed for them, to remember that we supported them and that we are together in this. We hope they keep it and treasure it.”