LINCOLN, Neb. - Zipline Brewing Company announced on Saturday that they will offer free beer to furloughed members of the bar and restaurant industry, starting the first Wednesday in May.
According to Zipline, each Wednesday in May will be “Workforce Wednesday.” During these days, furloughed members of the bar and restaurant industry will be entitled to a free glass growler fill of any Zipline beer on tap.
Individuals must purchase or bring a Zipline glass vessel to participate in this event. This event will apply equally to all Zipline locations in Lincoln and Omaha.
Zipline is a respectable craft beer, however is this a gift or smart promotion? The free beer is limited to out-of-work food service workers only one day each week in May. It doesn't appear that beer sales have been hurt by the coronavirus, so likely they aren't doing this to turn over inventory.
In Nebraska it is illegal to refill growlers unless they come from the brewery that is doing the refilling. Food service workers who don't have a growler must purchase one, which means that once the free beer ends there are "new" customers with growlers that can only be refilled by Zipline.
There is no benefit or discount to everyday shoppers.
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Not to be cynical, but I wonder if they might have been better off discounting their beer in stores, à la Schooner Tuna.
I can see it now... "Zipline, the beer with a heart."