GRAND RAPIDS, MI — It’s fitting that Brewery Vivant’s latest limited release beer is black like asphalt.

On Monday, April 28, Vivant is releasing Pothole Stout, a what-better-time-than-now craft beer that’s propelling the East Hills brewery into the middle of a campaign for a ‘yes’ vote on a May 6 city streets tax proposal.

The Fix Our Roads GR committee is holding a 5:30 p.m. campaign event on Monday, April 28 at the brewery. It includes appearances from state Rep. Brandon Dillon, Michigan Department of Transportation director Kirk Steudle and various city officials.

Campaign organizers say the event will include endorsements and poll results.

Related: Streets Tax: What it would cost, how it would be spent

The event coincides with Vivant’s release of Pothole Stout, a simple Belgain-style stout that’s been on tap in the brewpub for a couple weeks and is now being sold in limited release cans from the pub’s front cooler.

Jason Spaulding, brewery owner, said the beer wasn’t made specifically as a campaign promotion tool, but things kind of took on a life of their own after the brewery staff landed on a name poking fun of the worst pothole season in years.

Between now and May 4, $1 from every pint sold in the pub benefits the campaign.

“I don’t want to just be a complainer,” he said. “What can we do besides just complain about potholes? Can we have some kind of positive impact?”

Spaulding tries to stay out of partisan politics, but he’s apt to get involved on certain issues, he said. Vivant has thrown its support behind pro-clean water and anti-hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking” campaigns in the past.

“I think it's hard to not see the positive outcome" from the proposal, he said. The proposed tax would prevent an existing rate increase from expiring in 2015 and dedicate that money for city roads. "This is something we’ll have to take care of.”

Per Vivant’s website, Pothole Stout is a 6.3 percent alcohol by volume beer with subtle flavors of raisin, ripe plum and mild chocolate.

Spaulding said the cans should be available for a couple weeks and the beer should be on tap at the brewery, 925 Cherry Street SE, for about a month.

Garret Ellison covers business, government and breaking news for MLive/The Grand Rapids Press. Email him at gellison@mlive.com or follow on Twitter & Instagram