Fonio Rising is a series of beers brewed with fonio, a climate-resistant, sustainable West African grain dubbed the “seed of the universe.” Brooklyn Brewery brewmaster Garrett Oliver began championing fonio in 2019, inspired by a TED Talk given by Senegalese chef Pierre Thiam.
Brooklyn’s breakthrough partnership with Thiam’s purpose-driven food business Yolélé went worldwide last year with the release of Double Pilsner and has since manifested in collaboration beers with breweries from around the globe. This fall, Brooklyn added to its fonio portfolio, with a pale ale that hit Whole Foods stores in September.
Beers brewed with fonio not only support the environment, but also African communities and farmers. With 700,000 tons of fonio grown each year, this is a trend to watch in the future.
