Oak Park Brewing Co. and Peoples Beer are honored to announce a new collaboration with The Ray Charles Foundation, to release a limited edition Free Of Alcohol (FOA) brew celebrating the genius Ray Charles. This special edition brew will be available during a limited-time pop-up at Fixins Soul Kitchen, located at Downtown Los Angeles’ L.A. LIVE, from February 23 – March 31. The pop-up will include Ray Charles art and a playlist curated by The Ray Charles Foundation. On Thursday, February 23, a day dedicated to Ray Charles to kick off the special beer release will take place at Fixins starting at 12pm.
This special release is both a dedication to a legendary artist and an opportunity to educate people about his life and music. “To be affiliated in any way with Ray Charles is an honor, but to have our restaurant and brewery collaborate on a unique beer depicting Mr. Charles’ images on can labels is truly special. February 23rd will be a day to remember,” said Kevin Johnson of Fixins and Peoples Beer.
Oak Park Brewing Co. revived the Peoples Beer brand in 2020 to honor the legacy of Mr. Theodore Mack Sr., the first African American to own and operate a brewery in America. Mr. Mack picked cotton in the fields of Alabama and rose to become a civil rights giant who stood for economic empowerment and racial equity. In 1970, he purchased Peoples Brewing Co. in Oshkosh, Wisconsin to provide employment opportunities in minority communities. Mr. Mack’s historic achievements helped pave the way for people of color in the brewing industry.
In October 2021, Peoples Beer launched the “Icon Line” of beers to honor African American heroes of past, present and future. These icons have included Sammy Davis Jr., James Baldwin, Ella Baker, Frederick Douglas, Harriet Tubman, Sojourner Truth, Booker T. Washington, Bessie Coleman, Fannie Lou Hamer, Fred Hampton Jr. and many more, with the beer cans’ labels featuring artwork and information about their lives and historic achievements.
The latest icon immortalized in the Peoples Beer “Icon Line” is Ray Charles, often called the “Genius” who pioneered the genre of soul music during the 1950s, combining blues, gospel, R&B, rock, country music and jazz. His impressive multi-award-winning 50-year career includes groundbreaking hits such as “I’ve Got A Woman,” “What I’d Say” and “Hit the Road Jack” and has left an indelible mark on contemporary music all over the world.
The non-alcoholic beer was brewed with sweet orange peel and blood oranges to create a refreshing, enjoyable FOA beverage. The non-alcoholic brew will be available for purchase at Fixins Los Angeles, Fixins Sacramento, Slim & Husky’s and Oak Park Brewing Co. in Sacramento. A limited amount of presale 4-packs are available on the OPB website.
“For Kevin, Peoples Beer and Fixins is about craft, heritage and commerce. This combination ensures success. For Ray Charles, this was at the core of his belief system,” said Valerie Ervin, president of The Ray Charles Foundation.
Fixins Soul Kitchen was founded by former NBA All-Star and Mayor of Sacramento Kevin Johnson “KJ” and is located at 800 W. Olympic Blvd. Suite A150, Los Angeles, CA 90015. Hours of operation are Sunday – Thursday 11am-9pm, Friday – Saturday 11am-11pm, Game Days 11am-11pm.
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