$4 per case and $30 per keg of the new Texas lager go directly to Been There nonprofit efforts
Real Ale Brewing Company is putting its motto — Do What’s Right — on tap this fall with a new collaboration beer that supports the fight against homelessness in Central Texas.
Brewed in partnership with the Austin-based nonprofit Been There, the new beer — simply called Been There — is a crisp, easy-drinking Texas lager. And it’s a charitable one: For every case sold, $4 goes to the nonprofit. Every keg adds $30 to the cause. That support is already hitting shelves and taps around Austin at H-E-B, Total Wine, and local bars including Lavaca Street and Mean-Eyed Cat.
To build momentum, Real Ale and Been There are promoting the beer with in-store tastings, special events, and a sweepstakes offering fans the chance to win backstage access to Been There’s annual music festival — Been There 4 — on Nov. 8 at Radio/East in Austin. Tickets for the fest (featuring Mix Master Mike, Ben Kweller, and more) are available now at beenthere.org
, with 100% of proceeds supporting nonprofits addressing homelessness.
“Beer has this unique ability to bring communities together,” said Real Ale President Brad Farbstein. “We’re proud to stand with Been There and hope this inspires other businesses to get involved in this important mission.”
A mission disguised as fun
Been There calls itself a “Trojan horse” movement — using entertainment, art, and now beer, to raise visibility and funds for serious issues. Its flagship project was Home Free, a social impact film disguised as a college comedy, based on the real story of co-founders Aaron Brown and Lenny Barszap sharing their porch with unhoused neighbors while attending UT Austin in the ’90s.
Since launching, Been There has helped raise more than $3 million for local homelessness-focused organizations. Been There 4 will benefit partners including Sunrise Navigation Center, The Other Ones Foundation (TOOF), Caritas of Austin, and Art From The Streets.
“Our approach is about meeting people where they’re already having fun,” said Barszap. “We’re building a plug-and-play model that lets businesses integrate giving into things customers are already doing — whether that’s buying beer, going to shows, or watching movies.”
About the beer and brewery
Been There lager is a limited-time release made for easy drinking — light-bodied, clean-finishing, and built for Texas. The launch adds to a milestone year for Real Ale Brewing, which won Gold for Firemans #4 at the 2025 World Beer Cup and celebrated its 29th year of independent brewing in Blanco, Texas.
“Austin has all the right elements to become the first major U.S. city to successfully solve homelessness,” said Brown. “If we scale what’s already happening, we can start a movement that radiates outward.”
