Eric Steen, a beer lover from Portland, is known for his Beers Made By Walking projects, which involve taking brewers on hikes to forage for local plants and ingredients to use in creating unique beers that reflect the breweries’ local flora. Inspired by the relationship between conservation and craft beer, Steen has launched a new project called Earth to Beer in honor of Earth Day. The goal of Earth to Beer is for breweries to brew beer using sustainably-sourced ingredients and donate proceeds to nature-focused charities, combining the love of beer with a passion for conservation.
A total of 35 breweries have signed up for the Earth to Beer project, showcasing a diverse range of breweries from different regions of the United States. Each brewery participating in Earth to Beer has been tasked with brewing a beer using sustainably-sourced ingredients and donating the proceeds to a nature-focused charity. The beers are being released in each brewery’s local markets during the month of April, leading up to Earth Day on April 22. Steen has designed labels for each beer to have a uniform Earth to Beer look while also showcasing the individual brewery’s logo and artwork, creating a cohesive branding for the project.
In Arizona, Arizona Wilderness of Gilbert is supporting Natural Restorations, which works to remove trash and graffiti from outdoor recreation areas and wilderness spaces. Devil’s Club Brewing in Alaska is supporting the Southeast Alaska Land Trust, which has been working to permanently conserve over 3,600 acres of wetlands, habitats, and recreational lands in Southeast Alaska. In California, Coronado Brewing is donating to the San Diego Coastkeeper, while Headlands Brewing is supporting Alameda County Community Food Bank, focused on ending hunger and reducing greenhouse gasses.
Breweries from various states including Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, Washington are all participating in the Earth to Beer project, each selecting a nature-focused charity to support. The charitable organizations range from those focused on conserving waterways and ocean habitats to supporting local farms and communities. Through the Earth to Beer project, breweries are not only promoting sustainability through their ingredients but also giving back to important environmental causes.
Overall, the Earth to Beer project is a unique way for breweries to connect their love of craft beer with a passion for conservation and supporting nature-focused charities. By brewing beers with sustainably-sourced ingredients and donating proceeds to charitable organizations, breweries are taking steps towards promoting environmental sustainability and making a positive impact in their communities. With 35 breweries participating in the inaugural year of Earth to Beer, the project has already made a significant impact in raising awareness about the importance of conservation and giving back to nature-focused causes.
