Tell the Truth, a Beer That Believes In Facts

On August 31, Ponysaurus Brewing Co. is introducing Tell the Truth: A Fact-Checked Kölsch–a beer to benefit journalism in North Carolina. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to The Assembly, a digital-first magazine and reporting network, to fund additional reporting positions across the state. 

“Informational, factual local news is critical for our communities and it’s important to us to uplift and support the people that are digging deeper and investigating further so we can all be more informed,” said Ponysaurus Brewing Co. owner Nick Hawthorne-Johnson. “Partnering with The Assembly will help create more paid, equitable opportunities in the field.”  

Tell the Truth is an extension of the brewery’s popular and impactful “Rule No.” series that began in 2016 with Don’t Be Mean to People: A Golden Rule Saison, which raises funds for EqualityNC and QORDS, a summer camp for LGBTQ+ youth.

Tell the Truth is Rule No. 00000002, and seeks to support journalism that puts the facts first and sustains the journalists who do the hard work of holding power accountable. 

The Assembly is a statewide digital magazine focused on deep reporting about power and place in North Carolina. They launched in February 2021 with a focus on not just nuanced, hard-hitting journalism, but also building a stronger news ecosystem in our state. Their editorial network also includes weekly newsletters in Wilmington and Greensboro and daily news outlets in the Triangle (INDY Week) and Fayetteville (CityView). Their growing network aims to both localize important statewide stories and elevate local news to a bigger audience.

“Ponysaurus Brewing Co. does an amazing job of building community through their product, events, and spaces,” said Assembly founder Kyle Villemain. “We’re excited to partner with them to strengthen local journalism and make a great beer in the process.”

Ponysaurus Brewing Co. will celebrate this beer release with The Assembly at a September 10 event held at the brewery’s Durham taproom, beer garden, and pizzeria at 219 Hood Street, 5:30 p.m. This event is open to the public. Tell the Truth will be available on draft and 16 oz. 4-packs to-go.

Established in 2013, Ponysaurus Brewing Co. began as a nanobrewery in the attic of The Cookery, a Durham culinary incubator and event space. Ponysaurus Brewing Co. opened its Durham brewery, taproom, and beer garden in the Downtown East neighborhood in 2015. Its 6,000 square foot brewery specializes in a combination of traditional and experimental American, Belgian, and European-style beers. 

Operating from a fifteen-barrel brewhouse, the production facility is equipped with a state-of-the-art lab, a full-time lab technician that carries out a comprehensive sensory analysis program, advanced fermentation technology, and a Wild Goose canning line. In 2024, Ponysaurus Brewing Co. opened two additional locations: a pizzeria and beer garden in Wilmington, and a barrel room and restaurant in Raleigh. Ponysaurus Brewing Co. beer is available throughout the Carolinas and Tennessee. 

Additional information about the event is available here.