THEY SUPPORT POLICIES THAT PROTECT CLEAN WATER:

Clean water is a part of their triple bottom line business model. Crafting great beer while caring for the planet and doing what is right is how they operate. Their journey has led them to take steps to reduce their own impact on the water supply. They’ve built an onsite process wastewater treatment plant. They’ve cut water use. They give philanthropic dollars to nonprofits engaged in water conservation. They do what they can to honor the environment in their own process and philanthropy. They also know that good policies that protect water can do more than they could ever do on their own.

A BUCK A BARREL FOR MORE BIKES. BOOM.

Through their Environmental Stewardship Grant program -- aka $1 per Barrel program -- they donate $1 for every barrel of beer they sell to non-profits and causes that resonate with us. The causes that they focus upon fall into a few big categories, and one of those categories is bicycle advocacy and sensible transportation. In 2014, they are allocating $105,000 to support local organizations around the country who are working to make the bike a viable form of transportation in their communities. They thought it would be cool to spotlight one of those organizations:

The Bike Depot is a nonprofit community bike center located in Denver, Colorado. They offer a ton of services and have put thousands of folks in bike seats on the streets of Denver. Through co-operative instruction and guidance, they teach individuals how to confidently repair their own bicycles. Their efforts help foster community and inspire folks to safely ride their bicycles more often. BikeDepot is an integral part of Denver’s exploding bicycle scene: whether you ride for recreation or are a full-time commuter they can help you get your butt in the right saddle and teach you how to make it a smooth ride.

THE WETLANDS INITIATIVE

The Wetlands Initiative was founded in 1994 and is dedicated to restoring the wetland resources of the Midwest to improve water quality, increase wildlife habitat and biodiversity, and reduce flood damages. Their vision is clear and straight-forward: wetlands are more valuable wet than dry. The work that they are doing to promote this vision is pretty phenomenal: they are promoting the use of wetlands by farmers to naturally reduce nutrient pollution resulting from runoff of agricultural fertilizers. Before we get into the details of what that means, let’s back up for a moment and talk about what a wetland is, and why they matter so much to us. A wetland is an area of land that is saturated with water (at least part-time), and which is distinguished by its unique aquatic vegetation. A few types of wetlands that y’all may be familiar with depending upon your surroundings include mangroves, swamps, and marshes. Wetlands are arguably the most biodiverse type of ecosystem on the planet, providing habitat for countless species of plants & animals, and countless recreational opportunities for us humans. What’s more, they filter, clean and store water for their surrounding ecosystem. Or as the folks over at defenders.org put it, they’re the Earth’s kidneys! The importance of these storage and filtration functions cannot be overstated. By providing floodwater storage, wetlands can naturally handle significant flood events, avoiding the devastating effects that a flood can have on buildings, habitats, lives, and pocketbooks. By providing filtration, wetlands naturally remove high concentrations of contaminants and nutrients to ensure downstream ecosystems continue to thrive. And this is where the folks at the Wetlands Initiative (TWI) come in.   

New Belgium is honored to connect with TWI, and to connect with Midwestern farmers through them, and they look forward to hearing more about the great work they are doing. Next time you are navigating an American waterway, be sure to toast the good folks at TWI. It only seems appropriate to drink a Portage Porter while on the water, so perhaps you should fill a river-safe metal growler with it before you set out, eh?  

We are so excited to bring New Belgium to Chautauqua County, Cheers!

Source: http://www.newbelgium.com/sustainability/stories 

Have You Tried Founders Breakfast Stout? The coffee lover’s consummate beer. Brewed with an abundance of flaked oats, bitter and imported chocolates, and two types of coffee, this stout has an intense fresh-roasted java nose topped with a frothy, cinnamon-colored head that goes forever. Use our Beer Finder to locate the nearest 6 pack!

Fall has arrived: You’re busting out the boots, scarves and jackets. You’re spending weekends watching football and eating comfort food. While you automatically change up your wardrobe and your calendar for the season, there’s absolutely no reason you shouldn’t be changing up your beer of choice as well.

Summer is gone and so is the craving for citrus and wheat ales, Fall answers with pumpkin-flavored beers and darker ales.  It's harvest season, so jump on the bandwagon and start popping Fall flavored bottles!

Here are a few of our favorite tastes of Fall:

Find your favorite Fall beer near you by using our beer finder!

"If you were preparing for winter in Southern Tier's hometown of Lakewood, N.Y., you'd want fall to linger as long as possible, too. Pumking has been the pumpkin ale early bird for years, but it doesn't disappoint. It packs a little heat at 8.6% ABV, but there isn't a whole lot of alcohol to its flavor. It's a dark orange beer that smells like a pumpkin scone, tastes like pumpkin pie filling at the beginning and finishes like a cinnamon-and-sugar milkshake. There's a rare oak-barrel version that may require a trip to Southern Tier's brewpub, but the original recipe is enough to keep even the most discriminating beer lover nice and toasty." http://www.thestreet.com/story/13257784/3/10-pumpkin-beers-making-fall-flavor-a-summer-staple.html

"The wildly popular Southern Tier Pumking takes aim at 12oz bottles when it returns in the fall (July). One of America’s most popular pumpkin beers might be a bit more manageable when you are drinking alone." http://beerstreetjournal.com/southern-tier-pumking-12oz-bottles/

"The bottle states that the beer is brewed with "a pagan spirit", and I don't know what the hell that means, but those pagan spirits can make a helluva pumpkin beer. There is a veritable pumpkin spice fiesta on the nose, and those same flavors are present when you take your first sip. Expect a touch of sweet, as well. This is easily in the top tier of pumpkin beers, to be celebrated by pagans and non-pagans alike." https://www.thrillist.com/drink/nation/the-best-pumpkin-beers-dogfish-head-avery-brewing-elysian

"Pumking is an ode to Púca, a creature of Celtic folklore, who is both feared and respected by those who believe in it. Púca is said to waylay travelers throughout the night, tossing them on its back, and providing them the ride of their lives, from which they return forever changed! Brewed in the spirit of All Hallows Eve, a time of year when spirits can make contact with the physical world and when magic is most potent. Pour Pumking into a goblet and allow it’s alluring spirit to overflow. As spicy aromas present themselves, let its deep copper color entrance you as your journey into this mystical brew has just begun. As the first drops touch your tongue a magical spell will bewitch your taste buds making it difficult to escape." http://www.beerinfo.com/index.php/pages/bestpumpkinbeers.html