Proceeds From Hillcrest Brewery's Red Ribbon Ale Benefits HIV/AIDS Research

MO's Universe continues yearlong philanthropy with Hillcrest Brewing Company's Red Ribbon Ale sale proceeds going towards The Scripps Research Institute's HIV/AIDS research.

Hillcrest Brewing Company (HBC) announced that they will be brewing a Red Ribbon Ale beer to honor World AIDS Day.

The brewing company's head brew master, Austin Copeland, will also honor his late father, Steven Carey, with this batch.

"My father, Steven Carey, owned a popular salon downtown in the '80s and '90s named Checkers. It was cool having a gay dad, I guess my life was a bit like�'The Birdcage.' He died of AIDS in 1991 when I was very young. I remember getting picked on and made fun of about it," Copeland remarks.�

"For anyone that remembers the height of the AIDS scare, it was a terrible thing that affected tons of people and their loved ones. I wanted to do something in my position as a brewer to help the next generation and make sure it doesn't affect them like it did me."

MO's Universe will offer HBC's Red Ribbon Ale at all four of its locations starting on December 1. A $2 donation will be made to The Scripps Research Institute's HIV/AIDS program for every glass of the Red Ribbon Ale ordered.

"Scripps Research HIV/AIDS research program houses one of Scripps's most prolific scientists, Dr. Dennis Burton, who is a world-renowned HIV/AIDS researcher. He has received considerable support from the Gates Foundation, The International AIDS Vaccine Initiative, and other philanthropists and funding organizations," Nick Burchfield Director, Corporate and Foundation Relations, The Scripps Research Institute.

Lukas Volk, Marketing Director for MO's Universe explains, "Everyone at MO's Universe is pleased to see dollars going towards research that happens in our own backyard. Our community has long been touched by this unforgiving disease and we're excited to hear of all the new progress The Scripps Research Team is making to eradicate it."

Guests of MO's Universe will also be able to donate their MO's Universe Frequent Diner Reward Points during the month of December towards the Scripps Research fund.

"If we can generate just a little bit of money for a great cause, and give directly to groundbreaking research, it will be an awesome victory," Copeland concludes.

HBC's Red Ribbon Ale is a Session Red IPA with Mosaic, Simcoe and Amarillo hops. It will contain a 4.5 percent ABV and medium bitterness with aromatic notes of citrus and stone fruit. The brew has a rich copper color with Munich malt backbone and caramel wheat.

The world's first "Out and Proud LGBT Brewery" is located next door to the iconic Hillcrest Pride Flag. The fourth in line of the world famous Hillcrest landmark restaurant group, MO's Universe, HBC features handcrafted beer and stone fired pizzas with growlers & kegs to-go. Pouring only grains and grapes, our hunky brewsters can direct your taste buds to any one of HBC's own eight microbrews, or 16 all local guest taps whose own breweries have each defined the taste of their neighborhoods.