Looking for a little Christmas cheer with your COTU beer?!?! Well, come hang out the weekend of December 2nd – 4th and join in on the gingerbread house contest. The winner gets 2 all-inclusive tickets to Kings Dominion’s Winterfest!
Date: Dec 2nd – Dec 4th
Time: During regular taproom Hours
Cost: $20 and includes a pre-assembled gingerbread house and access to additional candy decorations. Houses can be purchased upon arrival, while supplies last.
Judging: All participants will be assigned a number, which will be included in the photo taken by a COTU staff member once the house is complete. Participants can then take their house home to keep. Monday morning, the production crew will do a blind judging of all entrant photos to determine the winner. The winner will be announced and notified on Monday afternoon, December 5th.
The Prize: The overall winner will receive 2 all inclusive tickets to Kings Dominion’s Winterfest! Includes: Admission, Parking, Single Meal deal, and a Souvenir Mug. Valid until 1/1/23.
Get Rover ready to show off his best tricks and his cutest costume, Growl-O-Ween is back! Join us at Center of the Universe Brewing Co. as we hold our favorite dog-themed event from
We’re teaming up with the Hanover Humane society to raise money to fund their mission of educating the people of Hanover County about the proper treatment of animals and rescuing animals and caring for them until they find their forever home.
We’ve got a ton going on for this event, Buckville Hootenanny will be rocking out live on the beer garden stage, and Legendary Provisions is going to be serving up some hot dogs (pun intended) from 2-5. We’ll also have a ton of dog themed events going on including a costume competition and trick competitions!
So load up the car and come on out to enjoy a beer and show of what your dog can do!
*This event is free to attend and open to all aged. For the safety or all dogs and humans present, please keep your dog on a leash for the duration of the event
Rocktoberfest is back and we are bringing the heat to the stage in 2022. Enjoy liters of beer, German Faire, and live music all weekend long! No, we aren’t putting you to sleep with Oompah music, we are lighting the stage up with 5 different bands playing everything from covers to rocking originals. Free admission, open to all ages, and leashed (and friendly) dogs welcome on the beer garden.
Band Schedule
Saturday 9/24:
12-2:30pm
James River Junction is back to pack the house out again. Playing classics that cover multiple decades, this local band will keep your toes tapping all afternoon!
3-5:30pm
Room for Improvement plays a mix of classic rock and blues cover music.
6-8:30pm
Bombage Band is in the house! These guys are Ashland locals and are no strangers to our Biergarten. These vet performers gonna rock us through the end of the day and leave you wanting more for Sunday.
Sunday 9/25
1-3:30pm
COTU classic Something Shiny takes the stage to kick off Sunday.Their unique twist on songs coupled with their humorous stage banter work together to present a most unusual acoustic show. Sit back and enjoy as they play songs spanning 5 decades and several genres in an effort to play ALL your favorite songs in both familiar and very different ways.
4 – 6:30pm
The “Chad’s Fault” duo takes us to the finish line! A fusion of country, rock, and blues, this musical duo delivers popular covers and undiscovered gems. Features the powerful vocals of Vonda Fox and the multi-instrumental musings of Tim Robinson.
Food
Enjoy German classics like Bratwurst and Soft Pretzels from the following food providers:
Legendary Provisions
Publix Food Truck
Admission is free and is open to all ages. Leashed dogs are welcome on the beer garden.
Center of the Universe Brewing Co is looking for a high energy people and beer loving person to join our team! Please see below for details. We look forward to meeting you!
Interested applicants, please send a cover letter and resume to: info@cotubrewing.com
Job Description – The Front of the House Manager is responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations within the Center of the Universe Taproom. This includes exceeding guest expectations by working with ownership, the Taproom General Manager, and through the tasting room serving staff to enhance sales, service, and visitor experience. The Front of the House Manager also assumes responsibilities passed along by the Taproom General Manager when appropriate.
Responsibilities – The following reflects management’s definition of essential functions for this job but does not restrict the tasks that may be assigned. Ownership and/or the Taproom General Manager may assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time due to reasonable accommodation or other reasons.
Create a positive and respectful work environment for the tasting room serving staff, by leading through example, consistent with Center of the Universe’s values.
Support and provide guidance for the team and ensure adherence to all policies, procedures, and Virginia ABC regulations.
Oversee the taproom during service hours to ensure the staff is executing their duties and the customers are happy.
Make frequent table visits during the course of a shift to ensure customers are having a good experience.
Handle all in person customer complaints while on duty.
Ensure that the facility is in good order and stock of beer, swag, and janitorial products are up to par.
Assign duties to taproom servers when appropriate.
Perform duties assigned by ownership or management in a timely manner including but not limited to frequent line cleaning and inventories.
Attend and contribute at weekly manager meetings with ownership.
Make minor repairs when necessary and report to the General Manager and/or ownership of any larger repairs needed.
Create and post daily social media content.
Compensation
Starting base salary of $37,000+
Quarterly Bonus up to $500 per quarter
Annual Bonus
Subsidized Health Care
401k
2 Weeks Paid Vacation
1 Week Paid Sick Leave
Beer Perks
Interested applicants, please send a cover letter and resume to: info@cotubrewing.com
After a two year hiatus, Summer Moon Music Festival is back!! If you like live music, helping charitable organizations, or both, this is the weekend you’ve been waiting for.
This 2-Day long festival is a battle of the bands for charity and features 21 local bands who will be taking the stage to battle it out for their organization of choice. To accompany the bands, there will be food trucks and two draft beer stations, so you won’t have to worry about lines to get a delicious cold one.
We are excited to welcome the Summer Moon Music Festival back to our Biergarten, and with it comes our oh-so-refreshing Summer Moon Imperial Wheat Ale. Brewed with fresh lemon zest and hundreds of pounds of raspberries, this big beer brings tons of tangy fruit flavor!
As always, this event is FREE, RAIN or SHINE event! Supervised, well behaved children and dogs on leashes are welcome to attend the festivities!
Band lineup (Times Coming Soon): Bobby Baine Buckville Hootenanny Crain Brothers Band Crowded Minds Earth and Lunar Rendezvous Flashlight Tag Howard Eckstein Jahvaquarium Lavelle Hall Mark Daniel and the Ranch Shakers Mark Werblin Oh! Cleary Sisters Phoebe and the Brads Red Lobster Cult Rick Vanderploeg Something Shiny Stormy Vandals The Crump Tunes The Stand Tim Perkins Working On It
We are rolling out live music, food trucks, giveaways, and buckets of ice cold beer for a one day bash to celebrate the release of our brand new “Brewski” Premium Craft Lager!
This all-day showcase of local musicians is bringing three bands out to the brewery. We are talking live musical talent running on the beer garden stage ALL day. We’ll also be providing outdoor games and entertainment, and running giveaways all day long.
Band Lineup and Times:
12:00-2:30: The Dogwoods 3:00-5:30: The Mighty Good Times 6-8:30: The Last Real Circus
Admission is free and open to all ages.
Well behaved and leashed dogs are welcome in the beer garden. We’ll have tons of new Brewski swag, Brewski on draft, and Brewski cans available in buckets for on-site consumption or 6-packs to go.
You’ll need something to go along with your ice cold bucket of brews, so we’ve invited our friends at Legendary Provisions, Cluck and Roll, and Freekin’ Rican to come out and feed you and your friends. We’ve got all the bases covered!
Let’s Talk Brewski
Whether you’re into finely crafted small batch artisanal brews or you just enjoy cracking open a cold one after a long shift, we can all agree that beer is pretty great. Brewski brings a little something for everyone. We made this beer with the intention of inviting everybody to the party. The style, a German Dortmunder, is a well balanced and easy drinking lager clocking in at 5% ABV. That said, you are welcome to just ask for the Lager that works as hard as you do, and order up a Brewski!
Center of the Universe is proud to present the 4th Annual COTU Christmas Market! Looking for something unique for that hard to buy for person on your list? Or, are you just looking for a little something for yourself!?! Well don’t worry, we have you covered. We will have handcrafted vendors at the brewery for a one day market for all your shopping needs. Admission is free, as always! Freekin’ Rican will be on site with delectable fare, so come hungry!
Vendor list to be confirmed by the first week of December. If you would like to apply to be a vendor, please email info@cotubrewing.com for more information.
How long is an Olympic swimming pool? Who named the Pacific Ocean? Who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize? Why are we asking these questions?
Because trivia is back at Center of the Universe! Every Tuesday night, starting at 6:30, Nathan Carlson will put your knowledge to the test and pit you and your friends against other groups hungry for the prize. Show your knowledge of all things trivial in four rounds of competition! The team with the most points will take away the grand prize, but don’t worry, the runner up won’t leave empty handed. Trivia is free to play and all are welcome, so come on in, grab a beer, order some food from Freekin’ Rican, and get ready for a battle of the brains here at COTU!
Everybody has music, brats, and steins for Oktoberfest. This year, we’re cranking that up to 11. This is the year that the COTU Rocktoberfest storms the stage. Grab the fam and come out for two full days of multiple German style beers, German food, and as much live music as we could fit into two days. There is so much rockin’ about to hit Ashland that you can’t miss a minute!
Saturday 9/25: 12-3pm– The Dogwoods are back to pack the house out again. This brand new band filled the Biergarten and then some at their first show as a group in July, and just recently opened for Lynyrd Skinner. You don’t want to miss their encore performance to kick off the weekend. 3-6pm– We have some COTU faves, The Royal We, bringing us through the afternoon with rockin’ takes on hits from the 60’s through the 90’s. This is the first time they’re back in the house in almost a year, so get here early if you want a front row seat for these guys! 6-8pm– Bombage Band is in the house! These guys are Ashland locals and are no strangers to our Biergarten. These vet performers gonna rock us through the end of the day and leave you wanting more for Sunday.
Sunday 9/26 1-6pm– COTU classic Something Shiny and the newer group Crowded Minds will be sharing the stage through our Sunday Bingo. They’ll be switching out throughout the day, so you’ll be able to catch them both rockin’ the house no matter when you get here. They’ll also have a can drive set up for Feed More RVA during their set. Bring 5 cans, get a Bingo card!
LAST BUT NOT LEAST!!! We have limited edition 22 oz COTU stoneware steins that we’ll be selling from the start of each day. These are first-come-first-served, and they ARE a limited quantity run so make sure to get yours!
Center of the Universe Brewing Company and the Hanover Humane Society are pleased to bring back the 7th annual Growl-O-Ween October 23rd from 2pm-5pm! Grab your 4-legged sidekick, dressed in their Halloween best of course, and head out to the brewery for a howlin’ good time for the whole family! Admission is free!
Contest Dates: August 28th, 2021 – October 30th, 2021
Contest Description: In each Redrum IIPA 4-pack, there is a token that has a prize on it that is associated with Kings Dominion’s 20th Anniversary of Halloween Haunt. Prizes range from 20% of COTU swag, free Redrum IIPA t-shirts, tickets to Kings Dominion Halloween Haunt, and the grand prize Halloween Haunt package.
Prize Redemption: All prizes must be redeemed at Center of the Universe Brewing Co. during normal taproom hours. Please see contest rules below for prize explanation and redemption procedures. KINGS DOMINION WILL NOT ACCEPT TOKENS AT THE PARK.
Must be 21+ to Enter
Contest Rules
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL, AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED. TO ENTER THE CONTEST WITHOUT AN UNDER THE CAP TOKEN, PLEASE SEND A SELF ADDRESSED STAMPED ENVELOPE TO:
Center of the Universe Brewing Co.
Attn: Promotions
PO Box 1207
Ashland, VA 23005
Eligibility: Redrum Contest (the “Contest”) is open to legal residents of Virginia only who are at least twenty-one (21) years of age at the time of purchase. Employees of Center of the Universe or other companies associated with the promotion of the contest are not permitted to win.
Sponsor: The contest is sponsored by Center of the Universe Brewing Co, located at 11293 Airpark Rd., Ashland, VA 23305.
Agreement to Official Rules: Participation in the Contest constitutes entrant’s full and unconditional agreement and acceptance of these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsor, which are final and binding. Winning a prize is contingent upon being compliant with these Official Rules and fulfilling all other requirements set forth herein.
Contest Period: The Contest begins on August 28th at 12:01am and ends on October 30th @ 11:59pm. Entries submitted before or after the Contest Period will be disqualified.
How to Enter: Entries can be obtained through the Under the Cap Redrum IIPA contest or by sending a self addressed stamped to the address above. Participants in the Under the Cap Redrum IIPA contest will receive one (1) entry for each 4-pack of Redrum IIPA purchased during the Contest Period. Limit one (1) entry per person/household for those participating by mail.
Prize Redemption: All prizes must be redeemed by either bringing your winning chip in to Center of the Universe Brewing Co during normal taproom operating hours, or by mailing you chip to the address above. 20% off COTU Merch coins can only be redeemed in person at Center of the Universe Brewing Co.
Prizes: ALL PRIZES MUST BE REDEEMED AT CENTER OF THE UNIVERSE BREWING CO. OR BY MAIL. KINGS DOMINION WILL NOT HONOR ANY PRIZES AT THE THEME PARK.
20% off COTU Merch: This token is good for 20% one (1) Center of the Universe swag item. 20% off cannot be used on alcohol purchases. These tokens are only valid in person and at the physical brewery location. 20% off tokens expire on December 31, 2021.
Free T-Shirt: This token is good for a free large Redrum T-shirt. These tokens can be redeemed only at Center of the Universe Brewing Co during normal taproom hours. Redrum shirts will not be available for shipping. This token expires on December 31, 2021.
2 Free Haunt Tickets: This token is good for 2 free Kings Dominion Halloween Haunt Tickets good for the 2021 Haunt Season only. Tokens can only be redeemed by either mailing the token to the PO Box above or by coming into Center of the Universe Brewing Co during normal taproom hours. Kings Dominion will not accept tokens at the theme park. This token expires on October 30, 2021.
Grand Prize:
Release of Limitations of Liability: By participating in the Contest, entrants agree to release and hold harmless the Sponsor, and each of the their respective parents, subsidiaries, affiliates, advertising and promotion agencies, other companies associated with the Contest, and each of their respective officers, directors, employees, shareholders, representatives, and agents from and against any claim or cause of action arising out of participation in the Contest or receipt or use of the prizes, including, but not limited to (a) any technical errors associated with the Contest, including lost, interrupted or unavailable Internet Service Provider (ISP), network, server, wireless service provider, or other connections, availability, or accessibility or miscommunications or failed computer, satellite, telephone, cellular tower, or cable transmissions, lines, or technical failure or jumbled, scrambled, delayed, or misdirected transmissions or computer hardware or software malfunctions, failures or difficulties: (b) unauthorized human intervention in the Contest; (c) mechanical, network, electronic, computer, human, printing or typographical errors; (d) any other errors of problems in connection with the Contest, including, without limitation, error that may occur in the administration of the Contests, the prizes, the cancellation or postponement of the vent and/or the flyover, if applicable, or in any Contest-related materials; or (e) injury, death, losses or damages of any kind, to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from entrants participation in the Contest or acceptance, receipt or misuse of the prize (including any travel or activity related thereto). Entrant further agrees that in any cause of action, the Released Parties liability will be limited to the cost of entering and participating in the Contest, and in no event shall the entrant be entitled to receive attorney’ fees. Released Parties are also not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by site users, tampering, hacking, or by any equipment or programming associated with or utilized in the Contest. Entrant waive the right to claim any damages whatsoever, including, but not limited to, punitive, consequential, direct, or indirect damages.
Center of the Universe is back at it with our first big event since 2019! We’ve got food, we’ve got music, and you’ve got some of the biggest beer lovers out there– your dads!
Show dad how much you care by letting somebody else do the grillin’ on Father’s Day. Hawks Fish & BBQ will be on site serving up some summer favorites, and Commonwealth Bluegrass Band will be here playing some live tunes. THAT’S RIGHT!!! LIVE MUSIC!!!
We are still going to be playing Bingo every hour from 1-7 for your chance to win a $20 gift card and serving up some of the best beer around! We are super excited to be having this event in honor of the dads out there who give so much to their families, so come on out and hang with us!
💝 To all the moms in the universe, thank you! This is your weekend and we are here to make 2021 the best Mother’s Day yet! We have teamed up with a local chocolatier, Taylor Made Chocolates, to bring you a truffle and chocolate sampling. Below are all the details. Since COTU is currently 21+ during the pandemic and you may or may not want to spend YOUR day with the kids, we have both an on-premise and to-go option for you! Dad/kids, having mom wake up with a box of chocolates and a 4-pack of beer might be the greatest introduction to Mother’s Day ever. Just sayin……
🚨 ADVANCE ONLINE PURCHASE REQUIRED BY APRIL 30th TO GUARANTEE CHOCOLATE AVAILABILITY 🚨
🍫 Taylor Made Chocolates will be on-site from 2pm – 5pm on Saturday, May 8th, with additional chocolates for sale.
Beer Pairings
🍋 Summer Moon Raspberry Wheat Ale w/a custom Raspberry and Lemon Truffle made with the beer!
🍒 Pomegranate Tripel w/Cherry Blossom Truffle.
🍊 Rally Cap Grapefruit Shandy w/Banana Cream Truffle
💻 Center of the Universe is currently 21+ only (no babies, toddlers, tweens, or teens) and practicing social distancing. Please go to www.cotubrewing.com for up to date policies and regulations during the pandemic.
Center of the Universe Brewing Company, located in Ashland, Virginia, is seeking a Cellar Person to join our fun, hardworking and dedicated brewery crew.
Job duties include, but are not limited to:
Moving and packaging beer
Milling grain
Dry-hopping fermentors
Forklift operation
Harvesting yeast
Keeping accurate records
Working on and running a 60 cans/minute automated rotary canning line
Candidates must be:
Motivated
Able to work in extreme conditions (wet/hot/cold/humid), on your feet for prolonged periods of time, and ability to lift and/or move up to 55 pounds.
Willing to work as a part of a team Safety-conscious
Able to multi-task Previous commercial experience is a plus
This is a full-time (40 hours/week) position with a growing company. Center of the Universe Brewing Company is an equal employment opportunity employer.
Pay is BOE with a floor of $15/hr and includes:
2 Weeks Paid Vacation
1 Week Paid Sick Leave
401k
Health Care Subsidy Beer Perks
Send resume and cover letters to info@cotubrewing.com
Are your company virtual happy hours getting a little stale? Still trying to figure out what to do for a corporate party this year? Finding it difficult to meaningfully engage with your customers online? Let us help! We are now offering virtual custom curated beer pairings live via zoom, or any other customer provided virtual meeting platform. Check out below for how it works!
Step 1 – Email info@COTUBrewing.com to get connected with your sampling tour guide.
Step 2 – Decide on a date/time/meeting platform for your event.
Step 3 – Create and send out an invitation to your guests.
Step 4 – Collaborate with a COTU team member on your ideal mix 4-pack of 16oz cans. 4-packs can include both year-round and seasonal/limited offerings.
Step 5 – Pickup your custom mix 4-packs from the brewery and deliver them to your guests.
Step 6 – Start your event!
F&Q’s
Q: How much does it cost?
A: Cost depends on the amount of 4-packs that are needed for the event. Each 4-pack costs $15 each. There is a minimum of a $500 purchase required for a 30 minute live tasting. This purchase can be a combination of beer, gift cards, or swag for giveaways during your event.
Q: Can you ship the beer to my attendees?
A: Center of the Universe is permitted to ship via UPS within the state of Virginia and DC. We are not permitted to ship outside of this area. Additional fees are associated with any shipment.
Q: What days/times can I schedule my virtual sampling?
A: Samplings are scheduled based upon our staff’s availability, but we make every effort to accommodate your desired event date. There is an additional fee for Friday – Sunday event dates.
Q: Who will be running my tasting?
A: All tastings will be run by either a full-time production team member, or a member of management. Either way, you will have someone who is well versed in all things beer, especially COTU beer! You will know who will be running your tasting at the time you book your event.
Q: Is there a way that I can do this in person at the brewery instead of virtually?
A: Yes! We have a private events room at the brewery that features its own bar, bathroom, and A/V equipment (projector, microphones, drop down screen). This arrangement would require a private room rental, which is separate from the virtual samplings.
Still have more questions? Please email info@cotubrewing.com.
The leaves are starting to change and there is a nighttime nip in the air! That can only mean one thing, it’s camping season and Center of the Universe is jumping into the spirit with both feet (and a pint in hand). Starting October 9th, Camp COTU will be in full swing in the outdoor beer garden.
“Camp COTU” will feature local and regional storytellers and performers from all around the commonwealth every Saturday at their “Campfire Stories.” Local legends, ghost stories, and personal triumphs are just a few of the topics that will be covered. Stop by on any Thursday for “Roundups,” which will feature local musicians, as well as cleaned and sanitized hand instruments for patrons to join in on a good ol’ fashion sing along. Arts and crafts kits will be available at all times, and even the resident food provider, Freekin’ Rican, will be churning out some campsite classics like chili and cornbread and fire roasted hot dogs and baked beans. Lastly, to round out Camp COTU, Center of the Universe has collaborated with Origin Beer Lab to produce 2 different brews. One is a Marshmallow and Graham Cracker Whip, and the other, a Double Chocolate Whip. Each brew can be enjoyed on its own, or poured together resulting in a classic S’more brew.
Camp COTU will provide a relaxing, safe, and enjoyable space to sip on some suds and stay warm by the fire as we head into cooler weather. Check out all the fun happenings in the outdoor lovers dream drinkin’ spot! Be sure to tag us (@COTUbrew) in your Camp COTU photos on social media, and use the hashtag #CampCOTU
*Camp COTU is 21+ only (no infants, toddlers, little kids, or big kids please) and currently a dog free zone.
Seating
7 Gas Fire Pits w/Camping Chairs
8 Lantern Lit Pergola Picnic Tables
Activities
*Check out our Facebook page for dates and times.
Arts and Crafts: Daily
Friendship Bracelets
Ceramic Painting
More to Come!
Entertainment
*Check our Facebook page for details on storytelling sessions.
In addition to our regular health and safety practices, we will be instituting the following staff requirements:
All staff will have a wellness check before each. shift, including taking their temperature.
All staff will be wearing face masks and gloves.
In addition to regular hand washing, all staff will be washing their hands and changing their gloves immediately after clearing a table, prior to visiting other guests.
Regular sanitizing of shared surfaces including door handles.
Beer Garden Rules
Guests who are feeling ill, or who have been in contact with anyone with COVID-19 symptoms should not visit the brewery and remain at home for at least 14 days.
Only patrons 21+ allowed. No children/babies/infants are permitted at the brewery at this time.
Dogs and other pets are not permitted on the grounds.
You will have to see a host/hostess to be seated upon arrival. All tables are offered on a first come first served basis.
Once seated, you are not permitted to get up to congregate, walk around, or visit other tables.
No more than 10 guests are permitted to sit together at one table.
No loitering in the parking lot or any other areas.
Credit card or gift card payments only. We will not be accepting cash payments.
No tipping. All serving staff is on salary, so you will not be handed the IPad to sign or add a tip to your transactions.
Mask are required for any visitors that wish to use the indoor restrooms at the brewery and strongly recommended until you are seated at your table.
As long as our patrons and staff are able to adhere to these rules, we can ensure a safe and enjoyable experience as we ease into opening. COTU reserves the right to shut down its Beer Garden at any time should there be issues with compliance or overcrowding. So, let’s all do our part to be safe.
If you are in the hospitality industry, we ask that you join us in writing our elected officials during this difficult time.
My name is Phillip Ray. Together with my brother, Chris, I own and operate Center of the Universe Brewing Company and Origin Beer Lab located in Ashland, Virginia. My brother and I rely on the staff of our small business for our livelihoods and they rely on us for theirs. We made a deal with them: they trade us their most precious commodity, their time; and in return, we offer them a safe and reliable place to work, a benefits package that provides health care in case of illness, a savings plan for their futures, a fair livable wage and a comfortable work – life balance. This week we are forced to break that deal.
This is by no means the first time our small business has faced hardships, but this is an unprecedented situation – one which I do not believe we can survive without your help. We have lost two of the three markets where our goods are sold and our revenues have been cut by 70% because of this. I am writing today to ask for your help. I am asking for you to help not just our business, but the 30 million small businesses in this country who are suffering.
Now is the time to help the workers in this country who contribute the most to the economy and receive the least amount of remuneration for their efforts. Now is not the time to send multibillion dollar bailout packages to multibillion dollar corporations. Those companies received their bailouts in 2018 with the historic corporate tax cut you voted into law. The result of that bailout was not improved salaries, increased benefits packages, or even a safety net for workers or the companies themselves. Instead, the corporations you bailed out participated in record stock buy backs and paid massive dividends to their shareholders. They used their bailouts for the benefit of a few wealthy stakeholders. Now, when crisis hits, they want you to use taxpayer money to bail them out again.
This is the definition of privatizing profits and socializing losses. For far too long, this country has asked the most financially vulnerable among us to bear the brunt of the fiscal pain when disaster strikes and reap the fewest rewards when the economy is booming. This crisis has proven to be no exception.
Small businesses in this country are often inefficient and ours is no exception. This inefficiency is exactly what keeps the economy moving. We spend the majority of our budgets on humanpower and earn razor thin margins. Our revenues do not sit in our checking accounts or investment accounts or in our own stock ownership. We do not have executive payrolls or massive lobbying budgets. We earn and spend our money locally, benefiting the greater economy not just our own.
We are the businesses that drive the economy. I call on you now to see past your campaign contributors, fundraising sponsors, and lobbyists and start representing the voters of this country. Do not fail us again.
Pass legislation that immediately puts money into the hands of small businesses and working Americans. Pass legislation that guarantees every American access to health care. Pass legislation guaranteeing all Americans with a full time job can support their families. Pass legislation that protects every American during times of crisis. I call on you to pass these laws and to pass them today. This is the deal you made with the American people when you asked for our votes. Now is the time to honor that deal.
Faithfully,
Phillip Ray
Co-Founder, Center of the Universe Brewing Company & Origin Beer Lab
Saturday, March 7th will bring back a taproom favorite and the first Satellite-brewed beer that was ever released in 16oz 4pack cans! Satellites Rewards is our our FREE membership program, and each year the top earning Satellites get to brew whatever beer they choose at Origin Beer Lab. Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Porter, dreamed up and brewed by Satellite Rewards Members and father-daughter pair Rand & Amanda, is a delicious 6.5% ABV beer brewed with vanilla & cinnamon.
Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Porter was constructed using Maris Otter, Flaked Oats and Barley, Carafa 3 Dehusked, Crystal 90, and Double Roasted Crystal malts. Chinook hops round out the flavor and the additon of vanilla and cinnamon make for the perfect cookie inspired brew!
Center of the Universe is proud to host the 6th Annual St. Paddy’s Day Celebration to support the St. Baldrick’s Foundation, an organization which has been providing lifesaving childrens cancer research since the year 2000. This FREE celebration is open to the public and will take place from 12pm-10pm on Saturday, March 7th. Bring your green hat, high spirits, and thirst for FUN. Below are a few more details on the event:
🍀 Raffle Prizes (all proceeds benefit St. Baldricks)
💚 Special Beer – Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Porter Release
This taproom favorite, brewed with vanilla and cinnamon, makes for the perfect cookie inspired brew. This beer will pair wonderfully with some of the Irish inspired food items available at the event.
As if you needed another excuse to drink beer, eat great food, listen to live music, and raise money for a very worthy cause!
🍫🍻❤️ Don’t wait until the last minute to go shopping for your sweetheart on Valentine’s Day… Or better yet, why not celebrate early at the 2nd Annual COTU Chocolate Fest! This intimate setting will feature some of Richmond’s finest chocolatiers alongside handcrafted jewelry, artisan gifts, and live music in our Private Events room. The Freekin’ Rican – Puerto Rican Food Carts & Catering will provide a light menu for the day as well as some chocolatey treats. Come see us as we celebrate the love of chocolate, beer, and the people we share them with!
What makes the day even sweeter? We will also be releasing The Box of Chocolates Stout, an annual favorite, along with 5 delicious variants for some serious pre-Valentine’s Day fun. The Virginia Lottery will be on site with games and giveaways as well as chances to win cash & prizes 🍫🍻❤️
