Middle Brow Beer Company Partners with Arts of Life to Launch New Brut IPA Line

Middle Brow Beer Company and Arts of Life announce they are collaborating in the production of a new Brut IPA line. This champagne-like, hop-forward and softly bitter beer will pay homage to the Art Brut, or Outsider Art, movements which began to grow in popularity in the mid-twentieth century. With the literal translation meaning “raw art,” Art Brut is used to describe art created outside the boundaries of official culture. As a leading artist incubator for outsider art in the Chicagoland area, Arts of Life is a natural partner and will be providing the artwork for the can labels.

“It is an exciting opportunity because it is rare that the missions of two organizations align perfectly for a project,” remarks Rick Sindt, Manager of Development and Communications at Arts of Life. Pete Ternes of Middle Brow couldn’t agree more. “We’re constantly looking for ways to use our beer to lift up the ‘little guy’–so to speak–and these artists are the perfect example of not-so-little men and women doing very big and beautiful things.”

Find it at Bottles and Cans, Sleeping Village, Cellar Door Provisions, or your local neighborhood liquor store!

Founded in November of 2011, Middle Brow Beer Company grew out of the idea that good beer might be used to do good deeds. With the mission of promoting stewardship of local Chicago communities, Middle Brow began by brewing small batches of experimental but approachable beers. To this day, 50% of their profits are donated to various courageous organizations in Chicago who are fighting to improve their communities. This winter, they’re opening a brewpub in Logan Square with a similarly radical mission.

Opened in 2000, Arts of Life was the first program in Chicago to provide meaningful vocational opportunities in the arts for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The studio serves as both an alternative day program and creative epicenter for its artists. A second location was opened in Glenview in 2010 at the request of North Shore parents seeking similar revolutionary programming for their children. Funded partly by the Department of Human Services, Arts of Life is proudly supported by The Coleman Foundation, Chicago Community Trust, Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, the Illinois Arts Council, and depends on fundraising efforts to sustain its program.