San Diego’s Pure Project Brewing and Torrance-based Smog City Brewing are always pairing their beer business efforts with initiatives that positively impact the environment. The two are members of 1% for the Planet and work to preserve the planet’s natural resources through sustainable business operations and charitable giving.
This week, the two California breweries have teamed up to release two beers that will benefit the National Forest Foundation (NFF): Beneath the Canopy and Forest Understory. The NFF is a non-profit organization dating back to 1992 that engages Americans in community-based and national programs that promote the health, restoration, and public enjoyment of the 193-million-acre National Forest System.
“With the effects of rapid climate change becoming more apparent and extreme every day, environmental action is of critical importance,” says Laurie Porter, co-founder of Smog City Brewing.
Through its ongoing partnership with the NFF, Pure Project has helped to plant over 40,000 trees to date. Pure co-founder Mat Robar states the goal is to reach 150,000 trees by the end of 2030.
A portion of sales from both Beneath the Canopy and Forest Understory will support tree planting to preserve healthy forests for present and future generations.
“The National Forest Foundation is grateful to partner with Pure Project and Smog City to reforest areas in critical need,” says Abby Schembra, the Reforestation Partnerships Coordinator for the NFF. “The trees planted will go on to provide incredible benefits like improved watershed health, wildlife habitat, forest health and resiliency, and natural climate solutions, to name a few.”
Pure Project’s contribution to this collaboration, Beneath the Canopy, is a murky India pale ale featuring Citra, Cascade, and Cashmere hops. Smog City has crafted Forest Understory, an India pale ale with spruce tips. The cohesive beer can artwork displays two different forest views that, when stacked, form a full picture of the tree ecosystem.
“In an era defined by collective action, partnerships like this illuminate the path forward, demonstrating that together, we have the power to cultivate a future where nature’s vitality and human aspirations harmoniously thrive,” says Schembra.
Beneath the Canopy will be available on draft and in 4-packs to-go in all five of Pure Project’s taprooms in San Diego County, online for California shipping, and in select retailers starting Thursday, September 7th, 2023. Forest Understory will be released in Smog City’s taprooms and online on Friday, September 8th, 2023.
Lawson’s Finest, New England Brewing collab benefits brewing education for Black and Brown brewers
Lawson’s Finest Liquids sent word of a new limited release brewed in collaboration with New England Brewing Co. Change in the Air, a Tropical Blonde Ale With Mango, will be released on draft and in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans in September, for distribution across Connecticut. All proceeds from Tropical Blonde Ale with Mango will support the Change in the Air Foundation and its mission to create a more inclusive beer industry.
A Tropical Blonde Ale With Mango, Change in the Air mixes bready malt and honey flavors with a juicy tropical twist. If a Hawaiian shirt was turned into a beer, it would be this one. Citra and Mandarina hops brighten the brew with lively tropical fruit and orange citrus notes that complement the use of mango. The colorful can artwork on the label is designed by New Haven, Conn.-based Black artist Allen Jackson, aka Dooley-O.
The beer’s beneficiary, Change in the Air Foundation, works to make education in the brewing sciences more accessible to Black and Brown brewers.
To provide a pathway to resources, New England Brewing Co. and The Connecticut Brewers guild, along with Sacred Heart University, created the CT Brewers Guild African American Brewers Scholarship. Proceeds from the beer’s sale will benefit the Change in the Air Foundation and the scholarship fund.
“What does beer have to do with a better world?” asked Jamal Robinson, Change in the Air co-founder and director of sales and marketing at New England Brewing Co. “The beer industry is a huge economic force in the United States, yet less than 5% of craft beer professionals are people of color. Our goal is to create opportunities and increase accessibility for everyone who wants to participate in the art of brewing.”
Change in the Air Foundation also hosts a yearly beer festival filled with music, art and delicious local craft beers. A celebration of beer and black culture, the Change in the Air Festival will be held on Oct. 14 at Bear’s BBQ in New Haven.
“If we are going to diversify who is brewing, we are also going to have to diversify who is drinking craft beer, so the festival is meant to create a space for Black and brown people to experience and enjoy craft beer in a comfortable, safe setting along with everyone else,” says Robinson.
Portico Brewing beer benefits river restoration
For more than 400 years the Charles River has been altered, controlled, and dammed to bend to the will of industry and development. While a small number of them are still of value today, the majority of the more than 100 dams located along the river and its tributaries are not.
Portico Brewing and the Charles River Watershed Association (CRWA) have teamed up to promote efforts toward a healthier and more resilient Charles River through the release of Dam Free Ale, a collaboration beer intended to highlight restoration efforts of the iconic waterway while savoring the final weeks of summer.
“Removing functionless barriers like Watertown Dam offers the opportunity to acknowledge the rights of present-day Nipmuc, Massachusetts, and Wampanoag people, revive migratory fish populations, restore the river ecosystem, and build climate resilience,” says CRWA Executive Director Emily Norton. “When you raise a glass of Dam Free Ale at Portico Brewing, you support a free-flowing Charles River for future generations.”
The consequences are numerous––today the river suffers impaired water quality, loss of biodiversity, invasive species growth, and harmful cyanobacteria blooms, all of which are exacerbated by nineteen dams that interrupt the flow of the Charles. With climate change bringing more frequent and severe storm events, outdated mill dams are in dire need of costly repairs and are increasingly susceptible to failure, putting people and property at risk.
“We are proud to partner with Portico on one of their ‘environmental handprint’ initiatives,” says CRWA Development Manager Emily Reiling. “We look forward to the opportunity to bring the community together to rally around dam removal and learn more about our work for a clean, resilient Charles River.”
Today, the Charles is once again a living river–––but the work is far from over. New challenges have emerged that threaten to undermine our progress; climate change, stormwater pollution, and addressing environmental injustice. But the organization is rising to meet the moment–––taking a regional approach to climate solutions, working with nature rather than against it, and centering environmental justice to ensure the collective flourishing of our watershed and all who call it home.
Dam Free Ale, a refreshing and flavorful German style wheat beer, is a special release and will only be available on draught at Portico’s taproom located at 101 South Street on the Cambridge-Somerville line while supplies last. A portion of the proceeds from beer sales will be donated to CRWA and its ongoing river restoration efforts. A release event will be held at Portico Brewing on Friday, September 8 starting at 6:00 PM to celebrate CRWA’s ongoing work to restore a clean, resilient Charles River for future generations. The event will feature a talk about long-term trends in water quality, as well as challenges and progress toward a swimmable Charles, all while sipping brews and learning how you can get involved.
Square Mile Cider’s Seasonal Offering: Imperial Apple Pie
To celebrate all things autumn, Portland, Ore., cidery Square Mile is offering its seasonally available Imperial Apple Pie Cider, made with 100% Northwest Apples. This cozy treat is a great option for cider fans as it is deliciously spiced and medium-bodied, with a rounded and sweet finish. With warm and sweet notes of baked apples to excite your senses and a high ABV of 9.1%, it’s the perfect drink to sip on a crisp fall afternoon. It is available as of 9/1/23.
Illinois’ Obscurity Brewing teams with nearby farm for seasonal standouts
A partnership between two Illinois-owned and operated businesses – Obscurity Brewing & Meadery and Kuipers Family Farm — is resulting in outstanding seasonal beverages: Apple Cider Donut Beer, Welcome Great Pumpkin Beer and Kuipers Farm Hard Cider.
- The Apple Cider Donut Beer. To be clear, this is a Donut-infused Golden Ale that brings out warm and sweet notes of cinnamon and sugar, and its warmth pairs perfectly with a freshly baked donut.
- New to the line-up this year, Welcome Great Pumpkin takes inspiration from Charlie Brown’s iconic Great Pumpkin story. The Midwest Pumpkin Patch Ale features a can design with a wink to the Peanuts crew while celebrating the Kuipers pumpkin-centric family farm, a destination location for thousands who flock there for fall fun each year.
- Kuipers Farm Hard Cider is made with Kuipers Family Farm pressed fermented apples and back sweetened with honey with a label design inspired by the focus of connecting people to agriculture.
“We wanted to honor our local agriculture with these beers, so we worked hard to make sure everything was true to the original flavors that Kuipers is known for. We can’t wait for everyone to try them!” shared Luke Goucher, Owner of Obscurity Brewing & Meadery.
When creating the products for this partnership, Obscurity Brewing and Kuipers Family Farm wanted to make sure they remained true to their roots. Luke Goucher and Carson Souza, Head Brewer at Obscurity Brewing, worked closely with Joe Kuipers from Kuipers Family Farm to create the unique flavors of each beer.
“We are so excited to be part of this special collaboration with Obscurity Brewing. There’s nothing we’re more passionate about than bringing people together while connecting them with agriculture in a new way,” shared Joe Kuipers of Kuipers Family Farm.
Papago Brewing’s Hopageddon returns
Papago Brewing Co. brings back their Hopageddon event on Saturday, Sept. 23 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. at their taproom in Mesa, Ariz. There will be 30 taps stocked with hard-to-find rare and specialty IPAs, special tapping’s throughout the day, throwback swag, and more.
The specialty IPAs will come from near and far to awaken hop-craving tastebuds, to go along with fan favorite Papago Brewing Co. brews such as Papago Orange Blossom, Papago Blueberry Wheat, and Papago Coconut Joe.
“I am so excited to bring Hopageddon back this year,” said Huss Brewing Co. founder/owner Leah Huss. “This is one of our favorite events to host for beer lovers around the Valley and we are excited to introduce our customers and guests to beers that they probably haven’t tried before.”
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