Gather Brewing Co.’s Hoppy CommuniTEA beer gets a citrusy zing from Special Leaf’s olive-leaf tea. Credit: Nina Rangel

Universal City’s Gather Brewing Co. has raised nearly $4,000 to support local kids through proceeds of its Hoppy CommuniTEA beer.

The fundraising beer, launched in December, is a collaborative blend of Gather’s American Pale Ale and Special Leaf’s citrusy When Life Gives You Lemons olive-leaf tea.

Thanks to charitable beer lovers, Gather raised $3,875 for Universal City Methodist Church’s The Backpack Program, which gives backpacks full of non-perishable food to area children so they don’t go hungry on days they’re unable to access school lunches.

Both companies have committed to donating 50% of the profits from the collaborative ale to a variety of nonprofits. The Backpack Program is the first recipient of Hoppy CommuniTEA funds.

Gather Brewing Co. opened late last year, bringing handcrafted brews and chef-prepared eats to the area outside Joint Base San Antonio-Randolph. It’s located at 210 E. Aviation Blvd. in Universal City.

Special Leaf olive leaf tea, helmed by local chef Chris Cook, purports to be the only ready-to-drink olive leaf tea on the market. Since the brand’s 2019 inception, Cook has released four flavors: Keep It Simple, Pomberry, When Life Gives You Lemons and sugar-free Heavenly Hibiscus.

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This article appears in Mar 9-22, 2022.

Nina Rangel uses nearly 20 years of experience in the foodservice industry to tell the stories of movers and shakers in the food scene in San Antonio. As the Food + Nightlife Editor for the San Antonio...