As both the most vital ingredient in craft beer and our lives, water is beginning to run scarce in many parts of the world. Earth is home to one billion cubic kilometers of water, while only 2.5 percent of that is fresh water, and less than 1 percent of that is accessible and potable, leaving more than one billion people around the world without safe drinking water.
As a leader in the craft beer industry and the sustainability movement, SweetWater Brewing Company has teamed up with Waterkeeper® Alliance, a global movement of on-the-water advocates who patrol and protect worldwide waterways. Together the two groups have collaborated to create the Save Our Water campaign to help conserve and protect the Southeast’s most threatened rivers, streams and coastlines.
“Many folks don’t realize that in addition to serving as a source for swimming, drinking and fishing in local communities, fresh waterways—Chattahoochee River in particular—account for a main ingredient making up 90 percent of our beer,” said Sweetwater Founder Freddy Bensch. “Keeping our water clean is a cause that affects our entire community, so dedicating a beer and a campaign to give Back to this effort was a no brainer for us.”
SweetWater encourages craft beer enthusiasts to “Give of your liver to save the river.” From July 4 through Labor Day, you can help support the Save Our Water campaign by purchasing Waterkeeper Hefeweizen Ale, Save Our Water t-shirts and paper fish at local retailers, bars and restaurants that serve SweetWater.
The Waterkeeper is a go-to summer brew clocking in at 5.7 percent ABV with hints of banana and clove. WaterKeeper is available in 6-packs, kegs, and is part of SweetWater’s Seasonal Catch and Release series.
The Save Our Water campaign was founded in 2006 with Chattahoochee Riverkeeper in Atlanta. SweetWater has raised more than $550,000 since 2006, and supports 35 waterkeeper members in the Southeast.
Thomas Appel’s love for craft beer began after visiting a micro brewery at the end of the world in the Chilean Patagonia. He currently lives in the center of the beer world in Boulder, Colorado, where he is the intern for the craft beer program and a recent graduate from the University of Colorado. A native of the Sunshine State, Thomas can be found enjoying craft beer while getting lost on the beautiful rivers of Colorado!
CraftBeer.com is fully dedicated to small and independent U.S. breweries. We are published by the Brewers Association, the not-for-profit trade group dedicated to promoting and protecting America’s small and independent craft brewers. Stories and opinions shared on CraftBeer.com do not imply endorsement by or positions taken by the Brewers Association or its members.
Share Post