Why Join the 6–7 Collaboration | Nationwide Brewery Initiative Supporting Schools

We recently launched the 6–7 Collaboration, a nationwide effort where breweries brew a 6.7 percent American IPA and partner with a local school or education focused organization, with a portion of proceeds going back to that partner. In partnership with No Label Brewing, the goal is simple: give people a reason to visit your taproom, order a drink, and support local schools. When breweries across the country do this together, it becomes something bigger than any one release.

In this panel, we break down how it works, why breweries are getting involved, and what it looks like in practice from the brewery, school, and community perspective. You’ll hear directly from a participating brewery, a PTA representative, and a city leader on why this matters and how to make it successful.

How to participate:

1. Visit https://67.beer
2. Choose a school or education focused organization
3. Sign up to receive the recipe, artwork, and supplier discounts
4. Brew and release the 6.7 percent American IPA
5. Submit your donation and be counted in the impact

Special thanks to Country Malt Group, The Hop Guild, InTouch Labels, Steel City Tap, and White Labs for supporting participating breweries.

If you’re a brewery looking for a simple way to drive traffic, engage your community, and support local schools, this is a great place to start.

What This Session Covers
This session centers on the 67 collaboration initiative, where breweries brew a 6.7% American IPA and partner with local schools or education-focused groups to donate a portion of proceeds. It highlights the importance of community engagement for breweries, showing how supporting education can strengthen ties with local customers and enhance taproom traffic. For taproom operators and brewery owners, this initiative offers a structured way to give back while creating meaningful events that bring people together.

Key Talking Points

• The 67 collaboration is a nationwide effort encouraging breweries to brew a 6.7% American IPA and support local schools or education organizations by donating part of the proceeds.
• Participating breweries receive an official recipe, artwork, and supplier discounts to facilitate the brewing and release process, with a suggested release date of June 7th (6/7) to maximize impact.
• The initiative is designed to engage families and community members, providing reasons beyond just beer to visit taprooms, such as family-friendly events and educational partnerships.
• Schools and teachers face ongoing challenges like underfunding, teachers paying out-of-pocket for supplies, and a need for community support, which this initiative helps address through fundraising and awareness.
• Collaborations with local PTAs and education foundations ensure funds go directly to teacher grants, programs, and supporting underserved communities, including summer meal programs and extracurricular activities.
• Breweries can find local school partners by leveraging existing customer relationships, reaching out to PTAs, or connecting through city representatives and education foundations.
• Planning community events around the 67 release can include family-friendly activities such as tie-dye stations, STEM exhibits, live youth music performances, petting zoos, and games, creating an inclusive atmosphere that appeals to a broad audience.
• Promotion strategies include local press outreach, social media campaigns, and community engagement to build excitement and awareness of the collaboration and event.
• The initiative reflects a broader responsibility of breweries as community hubs to support education and local well-being, reinforcing their role beyond just selling beer.

Action Items

• Visit 67.beer to sign up your brewery, receive the official recipe and artwork, and access supplier discounts to simplify participation.
• Identify and connect with a local school, PTA, or education-focused nonprofit to establish a partnership for the collaboration and donation process.
• Plan a community event around the 6/7 release that includes family-friendly activities and educational elements to attract a diverse crowd.
• Promote your 67 collaboration release through local media, social channels, and partnerships with schools to maximize visibility and community engagement.
• Create ongoing relationships with educators and school organizations to explore future opportunities for support and collaboration beyond the initial release.
• [00:13 → 02:23] The session opens by introducing the 67 collaboration, a nationwide project where breweries brew a 6.7% American IPA and donate proceeds to local schools or education groups. The process is straightforward: sign up at 67.beer, select a local partner, receive the recipe and artwork, brew and release the beer—ideally on June 7th—and submit donations to be counted in the overall impact. Several suppliers are offering discounts to participants, making it easier for breweries to join.
• [02:23 → 05:11] The conversation shifts to the origins of the 67 phenomenon, its appeal especially to school-aged kids, and the involvement of local PTA leadership. Lucy, a PTA president with experience in fundraising and events, describes her excitement about the initiative’s potential to unite community support for schools. Mike from Elation Brewing, a community-focused brewery near the host, shares his perspective on supporting education due to personal connections with teachers in his family and the importance of giving back after the challenges of COVID.
• [05:11 → 08:13] Jacob from No Label Brewing in Texas discusses his brewery’s community-driven approach, including their family-friendly taproom with a playground and ongoing partnerships with nonprofits and school districts. Casey, a city tourism and marketing coordinator, explains how the brewery’s community engagement aligns with the city’s efforts, emphasizing the strength of well-educated communities. They stress that even breweries not targeting families can benefit, as education impacts everyone.
• [08:13 → 11:42] The panel discusses why supporting schools is critical now, especially with ongoing changes and funding challenges. Teachers often work unpaid hours and spend personal funds on classroom supplies. The PTA works to fill these gaps through fundraising for events like dances, poetry slams, and teacher appreciation weeks. Additionally, the PTA supports military families with care packages. This highlights the many ways breweries can provide meaningful community support beyond just donations.
• [11:42 → 16:50] Jacob and Casey emphasize that breweries have traditionally been community hubs and should embrace the responsibility to support local schools. The discussion clarifies terminology like “ISD” (Independent School District) used in Texas and points out that every school district likely has at least one nearby brewery, creating ample opportunity for partnerships. Casey explains how education foundations distribute funds through teacher grants for innovative programs, summer meal support, and addressing disparities across diverse communities.
• [16:50 → 22:17] For breweries seeking to find a local school partner, Mike advises talking directly to customers, especially teachers, for introductions. Jacob suggests hosting teacher-focused events like trivia nights to build connections organically. Utilizing city representatives and simple outreach to local PTAs via email can quickly establish partnerships. The group notes the missed opportunity to highlight June 7th as an ideal release date, coinciding with the school year’s end and community celebrations.
• [22:17 → 28:27] Planning for a 67 day event at Elation Brewing includes family-friendly activities like carnival games, tie-dye, snow cones, STEM exhibits, and local vendors supporting the PTA. Live youth music performances from a “School of Rock” style program showcase local talent and arts support. No Label Brewing plans a paint class with the label artist, bounce houses, an exotic petting zoo, a crawfish bash, food trucks, and live music, reinforcing the initiative’s focus on community connection over beer alone.
• [28:27 → 32:50] The conversation turns to the broader community benefits of hosting these events at breweries, which provide a welcoming space for people to gather and support one another. Casey recounts how No Label led community relief efforts during Texas floods, demonstrating the brewery’s role as a local leader. Both breweries use press and social media campaigns to generate excitement and encourage turnout for 67 day.
• [32:50 → 39:58] Closing thoughts urge breweries to participate wholeheartedly, emphasizing that engaging with local schools and communities is a natural fit for craft breweries. The panelists encourage breweries to “say yes” and leverage their existing networks to get involved. The initiative offers breweries a chance to build goodwill, attract customers, and contribute to education funding challenges. The session ends with a call to action to sign up at 67.beer and prepare for 67 day celebrations.