PRESS RELEASE Portland, Maine – January 9, 2023 – Allagash Brewing Company, the award-winning Portland, Maine-based brewery, and Crowns & Hops Brewing Co., the celebrated Black-owned brewery in Inglewood, California with a mission to advance racial equity in the craft beer space, are proud to announce the launch of their collaboration beer, Cur-8Hitting shelves in February at the start of Black History Month, Cur-8 pairs the crisp flavor of Crowns & Hops’ 8 Trill Pils pilsner with notes of bourbon, vanilla and oak from Allagash Curieux.

Proceeds from sales will go to the 8 Trill Initiative, a development fund launched by Crowns & Hops co-founders Beny Ashburn and Teo Hunter dedicated to generating opportunities for Black-owned craft beer brands while demonstrating the benefits and fiscal impact of racial equity. Cur-8 is part of the new Eight Trillion Allies Collaboration Series that partners established breweries with Black-owned beer brands to accomplish true representation in the brewing industry. “8 Trill Pils” is named after a statistic from a W.K. Kellogg Foundation report, “Business Case for Racial Equity.” The report suggests that the U.S. stands to realize an $8 trillion gain in the national GDP by closing the racial equity gap by 2050.

“Allagash has been a brand that we have long admired, and partnering with them to launch Cur-8 is a natural fit,” said Beny Ashburn, CEO and Co-Founder, Crowns & Hops. “We’re able to draw from our respective signature beers to create something new and exciting, while also joining forces to support important initiatives that we care deeply about,” states Teo Hunter, COO & Head Beer Operations and Co-Founder, Crowns & Hops.

Cur-8 and the partnership between Allagash and Crowns & Hops is an extension of the two breweries’ long-standing relationship and mutual appreciation. Allagash Curieux was actually the first craft beer that Teo Hunter tried, and was key in sparking his interest in craft beer. The two breweries were also paired up in August 2022 for a ‘Fresh from the Barrel’ offering exclusive to Barrel & Flow Fest. With their latest partnership, Allagash and Crowns & Hops aim to create a lasting contribution for the 8 Trill Initiative, united in their mutual desire for progress.

“We have huge admiration for Beny and Teo’s passion and commitment – not just for brewing outstanding beer, but for building community and for civic engagement,” said Rob Tod, Founder, Allagash. “Our breweries’ core values align, and the release of Cur-8 reflects our respective efforts to make a positive impact through beer. We loved collaborating with them on this and look forward to working together with them to achieve more racial equity in craft beer.”

Allagash’s dedication to community and social justice initiatives is ongoing. The B-Corp certified brewery collaborates with multiple philanthropic and nonprofit partners, including through giving back 1% of the company’s annual revenue to multiply their efforts. Internally, Allagash has also made the commitment to Crafted For All, a framework built to help diversify and expand the craft beer community.


Cur-8 (6.5% ABV) is a limited release available in 4-packs of 16 ounce cans, available in California, New York, Georgia and at Allagash’s Portland, ME Tasting Room.

ABOUT ALLAGASH BREWING COMPANY

Allagash Brewing Company is a Certified B Corp founded in Portland, Maine, by James Beard Award-winner Rob Tod. Since 1995, the brewery has been dedicated to crafting the best Belgian-inspired beers in the world, all while giving back to the community that has supported them along the way. Earning coveted Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, and European Beer Star Awards, Allagash has been deemed one of the best American Breweries of the decade by Paste Magazine and one of the best breweries in America by Gear Patrol. Allagash was named “Brewery of the Year” in its category size by the Brewers Association in 2021, included on Inc. Magazine’s “Best in Business” list as well as Fast Company’s list of “Brands that Matter”, and named one of Maine’s Best Places to Work for several years running. Allagash is available in CA, CT, DC, DE, FL, GA, Chicagoland, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, SC, VA, VT, and WI. Learn more on allagash.com and connect with us on our Webby-honored social channels: Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter. From Maine, with love.

ABOUT CROWNS & HOPS BREWING CO.

Crowns & Hops Brewing Co. is the first Black-owned, woman-owned and veteran-owned brewery in Inglewood, CA. Deemed as “Changing The Face Of Beer” by TIME Magazine in 2019.  Founders Beny Ashburn & Teo Hunter have become leaders by disrupting the status quo and driving diversity & racial equity inside the craft beer industry. Crowns & Hops Brewing Co. mission is to preserve culture, expand the palate and build community through world class beer.

In 2023, the brand will also open Crowns Inglewood – a 14,000 sq ft Brewpub/Brewery based in the heart of Inglewood that will provide a safe family-friendly space for locals and visitors alike to gather, dine and enjoy delicious independent craft beer. Crowns & Hops will offer unique public space to connect over premium, local products in Inglewood/South L.A.

Crowns is available in CA, OR, GA, NY, DC and online for direct shipping.  Learn more at crownsandhops.com and stay connected via InstagramFacebookTwitter and TikTok.

ABOUT 8 TRILL INITIATIVE

In 2020, Crowns & Hops Brewing Co launched the “8 Trill Initiative” 501(c)(3) nonprofit focused on taking actionable steps to provide capital, resources and opportunities for Black-owned craft beer brands. Through the initiative, they raised a $100,000 development fund which they awarded to (5) Black-owned craft beer brands. The grant program will return in 2023 with funds raised through our Eight Trillion Allies Collaboration series.   Learn more about 8 Trill Initiative or become an Eight Trillion Ally today – 8trillion.org.