Founders Brewing Co., Michigan's largest brewery, is facing criticism Monday after a leaked transcript of a deposition in a racial discrimination lawsuit against the Grand Rapids-based brewery revealed its Detroit taproom general manager wouldn't acknowledge the plaintiff's race.

Tracy Evans, a fired events and promotions manager at Founders' Detroit taproom, filed the racial discrimination and retaliation lawsuit in August 2018.

According to the lawsuit:

Founders tolerated "a racist internal corporate culture."

Multiple employees used the N-word in conversations with Evans, who is black.

Office printers were labeled "in a blatantly racist fashion."

Evans also alleges that he was passed up for promotions because of his race and that the company fired him in retaliation for complaints to human resources. Founders has denied much of the allegations.

As the case moves through depositions, a transcript first published by Tom Perkins of the Detroit Metro Times reveals an exchange between Evans' attorney, Jack Schulz, and Founders Detroit general manager Dominic Ryan, who reportedly fired Evans last year.

In the exchange, Ryan was repeatedly asked whether he knew Evans' race, in which he wouldn't answer. The excerpt, later provided to the Free Press by Schulz, read:

Schulz: When did you first meet Tracy Evans? Ryan: 2011, 2012. We had mutual friends before working there, so — Schulz: Okay. So you knew Tracy prior to his employment at Founders? Ryan: Met a few times, yes. Schulz: Okay. Are you aware that Tracy is black? Ryan: What do you mean by that? Schulz: Were you aware that Tracy is African American? Ryan: I’m not sure of his lineage so I can’t answer that. Schulz: All right. Are you aware Tracy's a man of color? Ryan: What do you mean by that? Schulz: Do you know what a white person is versus a black person? Ryan: Can you clarify that for me? Schulz: No. Do you know — you don't know what it means for someone to be a white person or a black person? Ryan: I'm asking for clarification. Schulz: You don’t need any. I can promise you that. We’ll keep the record as is. Someone’s skin color. A white — Ryan: So that’s what you’re referring to? Schulz: Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah. Ryan: OK. Yes, I know the difference in skin tone. Schulz: Are you able to identify individuals by their skin color? Ryan: What do you mean identify? Schulz: I mean have you ever looked at Tracy Evans in your entire life? Have you? That’s a — that’s a genuine question. Founders attorney Patrick Edsenga: Objection. Argumentative. You can answer. Ryan: Yes. Schulz: And did you ever realize that Tracy’s skin color is black? Ryan: That’s not — I mean, is his skin different from mine? Yes. Schulz: How? Ryan: What do you mean how? It’s a different color. Schulz: Correct. And what is the difference of that color? Ryan: It’s darker. Schulz: And that means? Founders attorney Edsenga: Objection. Vague question. Schulz: I mean, we could — This could be a one-sentence answer, you know. So by your — I guess your testimony is you have no idea if Tracy is a minority, if he’s African American? Ryan: I don’t know Tracy’s lineage, so I can’t speculate on whether he’s — if he’s from Africa or not. Schulz: What do you mean lineage, from Africa? Ryan: No. I mean, like, I don’t know his DNA. Schulz: Have you ever met black people who aren’t from Africa? Ryan: Excuse me? Schulz: Have you ever met a black person born in America? Ryan: Yes. Schulz: And you were able — Have you ever met a black person who didn’t tell you they were black? Ryan: Can you rephrase that? Schulz: Is Barack Obama black? Founders attorney Edsenga: Objection. Schulz: To your knowledge? Ryan: I’ve never met Barack Obama so I don’t — Schulz: So you don’t know if Barack Obama is black? What about Michael Jordan? Do you know if Michael Jordan is black? Founders attorney Edsenga: Objection. Ryan: I never met him. Schulz: So you don’t know? What about (former Detroit mayor) Kwame Kilpatrick? Ryan: Never met him. Schulz: To your knowledge, was Kwame Kilpatrick black? Ryan: I — Schulz: You don’t know? Ryan: I don’t know.

In response to the Metro Times article and the backlash it has received on social media, Founders released a statement later Monday, provided by its legal counsel, saying the Metro Times chose not to include its full statement to Perkins, the writer.

The statement, in full:

Please see below for a full statement regarding the recent Detroit Metro Times article provided by our legal counsel. The author chose not to include our full statement and, as a result, we are opting to share it with you. Mr. Perkins, Thank you for reaching out to Founders before publishing your column. Founders will soon be providing its full response to Mr. Evans’ claims when it files a motion to dismiss the case in its entirety. This motion will include documentary proof that neither Mr. Evans’ race nor retaliation played any part in Founders’ decision to end Mr. Evans’ employment. I would ask that you reserve judgment or comment on this case until you actually see the evidence presented by the parties. In the event that you will not, I understand that a person unfamiliar with most of the facts in this case, and a person unfamiliar with the obligations that individuals are under when they give deposition testimony, might perceive Mr. Ryan’s statement as noteworthy. It is not. First, as I doubt you’re aware, Mr. Evans himself has testified – unequivocally and under oath — that Mr. Ryan is not racist and was his friend; so whatever point Mr. Evans is trying to make by leaking deposition testimony to you is undone by his own words. Second, this testimony is not Founders’ defense in this case as you allege. Founders evaluated and decided to terminate Mr. Evans based only on his job performance. Mr. Evans’ poor job performance will be apparent when Founders files its upcoming motion. Third, through this testimony, Mr. Ryan was simply saying that he does not assume anything about individuals’ race or ethnicity unless they tell him that information. While it might be acceptable to speculate about this type of thing in casual conversation, Mr. Ryan was not having a casual conversation. He was under oath when he made these statements. As all deponents are instructed, Mr. Ryan was directed not to guess, assume or speculate in his deposition. This is the reason for his answer. The fact that Mr. Evans is selectively leaking this type of information to you indicates that, unlike Founders, he has no evidence to support his position in this case. Founders looks forward to its day in court, and, now that discovery has closed, it is more confident than ever that it will prevail.

Founders has denied most of the lawsuit's allegations, though it admitted in its response that in two instances, employees said the N-word in conversation with Evans and didn't immediately get fired (lawsuit response here). The company stated Evans was fired because of work performance and that he missed "numerous deadlines" to submit a proposal for an event at the Detroit taproom.

Founders, which plans to sell a 90% stake to Spanish beer company Mahou San Miguel in January 2020, said last February it has hired a Director of Diversity & Inclusion and that the staff was "involved in sensitivity training" in an effort to promote an "inclusive environment."

UPDATE, 9:33 p.m. Monday: Eastern Market Brewing Co. has announced it will not participate in this weekend's Fall Beer Festival, hosted by the Michigan Brewers Guild, because it does "not believe Founders deserves to be present."

The festival takes place Friday and Saturday at Eastern Market, just a block from the brewery's 2515 Riopelle location.

The full statement, posted to Facebook on Monday night:

Eastern Market Brewing Co. will not be participating in this weekend's Michigan Brewers Guild Detroit Fall Beer Festival because we do not believe Founders deserves to be present. While Founders may have a taproom in Detroit, they do not represent the diverse community that is the city of Detroit. This is not a decision that was made lightly, nor a decision made solely because of today's Detroit Metro Times article. Since the news broke about the racial discrimination case against Founders, it has been a topic of conversation amongst our team. We got to know Tracy and we listened to his story. Whether or not a Founders' employee was fired because of the color of his skin does not change the fact he was made to feel uncomfortable in their workplace. It also does not change the fact Founders has not publicly acknowledged wrongdoing. Founders' statement today on their website proves they are a multi-nation conglomerate more focused on winning a lawsuit than they are on making positive change. That's not right. We are not participating because we do not feel comfortable doing so. However, it’s important to remember that this is just a beer festival and while our absence may raise awareness of the lack of inclusion and diversity in the craft beer industry, it does not address it. We realize there is more work to be done and we commit here and now to create a plan for change. If you do plan to attend the Detroit Beer Festival this weekend, please do so respectfully and responsibly. Go ahead and drink the beer that you want to drink. But please, do what beer does best and come together to discuss these issues. We can't make real change without first acknowledging an issue exists.

Spirits of Detroit writer Brian Manzullo covers craft alcohol for the Free Press. Contact him: bmanzullo@freepress.com and on Untappd, bmanzullo and Twitter, @BrianManzullo and @SpiritsofDET. Staff writer Tresa Baldas contributed to this report.