Partnering with a craft beer legend — Oskar Blues x Olly Olly

Many contributors here at GBH have long been outdoorsy folks. From camping to fishing to trail running – we’re as active bunch.

In the past couple years, like many people, we found solace in the outdoors . If we couldn’t get together, we could at least get out there. Something about the upending of society has a way of reshuffling priorities.

I’ve been going to the forests around Chicago to volunteer in restoration efforts—cutting down invasive trees, letting in the sunlight on the forest floor, and bringing back native species. Jamaal Lemon has been chartering boats and teaching his boy to catch big saltwater fish. Stephanie Grant is joining a Black camping project to reclaim this country’s land and her right to access, explore, and celebrate it.

Olly Olly was the name of our party in the woods going back 6+ years. It operated as our company picnic — a kind of “corporate retreat” for a very loose collation of collaborators, contributors, and colleagues. Many of our best and longest relationships were formed and embodied by this experience with brewers, chefs, wine makers, coffee roasters, filmmakers and other creative types. But as much as we respected and inspired each other—there’s no denying that it was the falling away of the apparatus of daily life, facilitated by the outdoors, that sparked the opening of our minds and hearts.

So today we’re announcing a new partnership in our reimagining of Olly Olly – as both an experiential opportunity as a storytelling platform.

Oskar Blues was the first craft brewery to help outdoorsy folks operate (safely) with a beer in hand by putting Dale’s Pale ale – one of the U.S.’s iconic craft beers – in aluminum cans. Together with Oskar Blues, we’re getting outside, taking on new challenges, making our own fun — The Olly Olly series is all about the sense of freedom that comes from pursuing a passion with a great beer in hand. Build a bonfire, find a peak, coast a river—live life like a summer camp—Olly Olly, all run free.

If you’ve got a story to tell about getting outside and running free – you can pitch us at [email protected]

Grab a Dale’s. Stay tuned for adventure.

Words by Michael Kiser