Joins Brooklyn Brewery Fonio Rising Pale Ale Becomes Part of Core Lineup
Brooklyn Brewery is making a bold move in the craft beer industry by expanding its core lineup with the nationwide release of Fonio Rising Pale Ale. Following a highly successful limited release in 2024, where it earned Brewbound’s prestigious Best New Product of the Year award, this distinctive beer is set to become a permanent fixture in the brewery’s portfolio. The nationwide launch represents a significant milestone, marking not only the success of Fonio Rising Pale Ale but also the brewery’s commitment to innovative and sustainable brewing practices.
The Journey of Fonio Rising Pale Ale
The origins of Fonio Rising Pale Ale can be traced back to Brooklyn Brewery’s groundbreaking Brewing for Impact initiative, a campaign celebrating brewmaster Garrett Oliver’s 30-year tenure at the brewery. As part of this campaign, Oliver collaborated with seven global breweries to experiment with fonio, an ancient grain native to West Africa. These collaborations highlighted the grain’s remarkable brewing potential and its ability to thrive in extreme climates with minimal resources, making it both a sustainable and culturally significant ingredient.
Garrett Oliver, a James Beard Award-winning brewmaster, first began experimenting with fonio in 2019. Recognizing its unique characteristics and potential to create exceptional beer, he championed its use in craft brewing. The enthusiastic response from the beer community and beyond has helped propel fonio into the mainstream, solidifying its role in Brooklyn Brewery’s innovation efforts. With Fonio Rising Pale Ale now part of the core lineup, Brooklyn Brewery is ensuring that this resilient and historic grain gains the recognition it deserves in the modern craft beer scene.
A Unique Flavor Profile
Fonio Rising Pale Ale offers a crisp, dry taste bursting with tropical passionfruit and citrus notes. The beer is brewed with a blend of two-row pale malt and fonio, then dry-hopped with Strata and Citra hops to enhance its refreshing and aromatic profile. The result is a balanced yet complex pale ale with a snappy finish, making it a versatile pairing for a variety of foods. Ideal pairings include grilled seafood, spicy dishes, mango salsa, Yassa chicken, and fish tacos. This ability to complement bold flavors makes Fonio Rising Pale Ale an exciting addition to any meal, bringing a fresh twist to craft beer pairings.
The Cultural and Environmental Impact of Fonio
Beyond its outstanding flavor, Fonio Rising Pale Ale carries a deeper significance. Fonio is one of the oldest cultivated grains, with a history spanning over 5,000 years. It grows in near-desert conditions without the need for chemicals, tilling, or irrigation, making it an environmentally friendly and climate-resilient crop. Additionally, fonio provides economic opportunities for thousands of smallholder farmers across West Africa, many of whom are women. By incorporating fonio into its brewing process, Brooklyn Brewery is not only embracing a sustainable ingredient but also supporting agricultural communities that depend on this vital grain.
“In my 35 years of brewing, I’ve never seen an ingredient or innovation excite beer drinkers and other brewers quite like this,” Oliver stated. “Fonio is an incredible grain that makes incredible beer. With Fonio Rising Pale Ale joining our core lineup, African-grown fonio is finally reaching the mainstream—not just as a sustainable and socially impactful crop, but as an ingredient that makes great tasting beer. It gives this pale ale a tropical lilt that’s really delicious.”
Celebrating the Launch with Cultural Events
To mark the national expansion of Fonio Rising Pale Ale, Brooklyn Brewery is teaming up with African Chop House, an organization dedicated to bringing people together through African food, music, and storytelling. Throughout 2025, the brewery and African Chop House will host a series of events celebrating African culture, cuisine, and craft. These events will highlight bold flavors, rich traditions, and a sense of community, reinforcing the connection between beer and cultural heritage. More details on these events will be announced soon.
In addition to these celebrations, Brooklyn Brewery and African Chop House have collaborated on a limited-edition merchandise collection. Designed by Chalé, a visionary creative known for blending contemporary and traditional African aesthetics, this exclusive collection will be available for purchase at Brooklyn Brewery’s Tasting Room and online at the end of February. The collection aims to further celebrate the cultural significance of fonio and the broader impact of African influences in the world of craft beer.
Brew a Beer with Brooklyn Brewery Contest
As part of the excitement surrounding Fonio Rising Pale Ale, Brooklyn Brewery is launching an innovative contest: Brew a Beer with Brooklyn Brewery. This competition offers one lucky winner the opportunity to develop a unique fonio-based beer alongside Oliver and his expert brewing team. The grand prize includes a trip to New York City to participate in the brewing process, a collaboration with Brooklyn Brewery’s design team to create a custom beer label, and an exclusive invitation to the beer’s launch party. This contest underscores the brewery’s commitment to fostering creativity and collaboration within the craft beer community. Full details on how to enter will be made available on Brooklyn Brewery’s website.
The Global Recognition of Fonio in Brewing
Fonio Rising Pale Ale first made its debut in September 2024 as a limited release under the Brewing for Impact initiative. The campaign brought together a coalition of world-renowned breweries, including Maison Kalao (Senegal), Thornbridge (UK), Omnipollo (Sweden), Carlsberg (Denmark), Russian River (US), Jing-A (China), and Guinness, to craft unique beers featuring fonio. Each brewery incorporated fonio into their brews, showcasing the grain’s versatility and paying tribute to Africa’s deep-rooted influence on brewing history.
The initiative was a resounding success, further solidifying fonio’s place in the craft beer world. The decision to permanently integrate Fonio Rising Pale Ale into Brooklyn Brewery’s core lineup is a testament to the growing demand for innovative, sustainable brewing ingredients.
A Tribute to Tradition and Innovation
With the national rollout of Fonio Rising Pale Ale, Brooklyn Brewery continues to push the boundaries of craft brewing. This beer is more than just a new product; it is a symbol of the harmony between tradition and innovation. By celebrating a grain known as the “Seed of the Universe,” Brooklyn Brewery is not only introducing an exciting new flavor profile to beer lovers but also highlighting the importance of sustainable and socially conscious brewing practices.
Fonio Rising Pale Ale is a bold step forward in the craft beer industry, proving that great beer can be both delicious and impactful. Whether enjoyed at a lively cultural event, paired with a flavorful meal, or savored on its own, this pale ale is set to make a lasting impression on beer enthusiasts nationwide. As Brooklyn Brewery continues to champion fonio and its incredible potential, Fonio Rising Pale Ale stands as a shining example of how beer can bring people, cultures, and traditions together—one sip at a time.
