Giancarlo Vigil, the owner of the Maté Exchange who died in March at the age of 23, gave Ska Brewing Co. a recipe that sought to infuse yerba maté tea and beer just days before he passed away.
On Sunday, Ska Brewing will bring the former Fort Lewis College student’s idea into being, releasing a limited-time “Special Maté Beer” based on Vigil’s recipe.
“We wanted to fulfill the project that we had started with him and make it come to fruition,” said Kristen Muraro, Ska’s sales and marketing director.
Vigil, an economics major, graduated from FLC with honors in 2015, but a semester abroad in Argentina would wind up changing his life.
There, Vigil discovered yerba maté, a South American tea that’s known for having caffeine levels similar to coffee, without the crash, while retaining the taste of a leafy tea.
Upon his return, Vigil set about bringing yerba maté to Durango.
As a result, he started the Maté Exchange. In 2016, he won FLC’s “Hawk Tank” competition, beating 43 other participating businesses and winning $5,000 to help develop the company.
Vigil and the Maté Exchange were also accepted into SCAPE, a six-month program that provides mentoring and development, as well as $30,000 in seed money.
Vigil also had a small shop in Durango at Fitness Solutions 24/7.
On March 31, Vigil was found dead at his rented home in Tween Lakes Estates, a subdivision near Lemon Reservoir. His death was ruled a suicide.
Denise DeLuzio Vigil said her son had met with Ska just before his death. She said she met with Ska recently with the hopes of completing her son’s idea to create a yerba maté beer.
Vigil said she started a nonprofit in her son’s memory. Ska will debut the new beer from noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Part of the proceeds will be donated to the Deborah Walker Fort Lewis Economics Scholarship fund, El Centro de los Colores Scholarship fund, as well as two student/entrepreneur scholarships.
“I’m trying to get the community to rally around the fact that we have kids that matter here and we need to honor that,” she said.
Ska’s Muraro said Giancarlo Vigil’s caffeinated beer is a first for Ska.
“I think that was why we originally had agreed to it – it sounded like something different we could try,” she said. “I haven’t had a chance to taste it yet, but I’ve heard it’s delicious.”
Only a few batches of Ska’s “Special Maté Beer” were made, and it will be sold only while supplies last.
jromeo@durangoherald.com
This story has been corrected to include the proper name of the Deborah Walker Fort Lewis Economics Scholarship fund.
