April 12, 2024 – Embracing Earth Month this April, Hopworks Brewery joins nearly 40 other breweries nationwide in the Earth To Beer campaign, culminating in a showcase event at their SE Portland pub featuring eight participating breweries on April 19th from 4:30-7pm.
Earth To Beer is a grassroots movement aiming to encourage breweries to produce beers with a smaller environmental footprint. Breweries are urged to source eco-friendly ingredients and allocate a portion of sales to local environmental nonprofits, thus influencing both upstream and downstream impacts of beer production. Northwest beneficiaries include Oregon Wild, Sustainable Northwest, Columbia Land Trust, Washington Conservation Action, Adventures Without Limits, Puget Sound Restoration Fund, among others.
Breweries kicked off the release of their Earth To Beer creations on April 1st, with offerings continuing through Earth Day on April 22nd. Hopworks’ showcase event on April 19th promises to be a prime opportunity to sample a variety of these eco-conscious brews on draft in one location. Featured beers will include Hopworks Earth to Beer Organic West Coast IPA, alongside creations from Ferment, Level, Little Beast, Steeplejack, Aslan, Vice, and Ghostfish. Pints will be available from at least 4:30-7pm. For full event details, visit the official event page.
“We created Earth To Beer to ignite discussions about the significance of sustainable sourcing and supporting responsible agriculture,” explained Eric Steen, founder of the Earth To Beer movement. “While this is a national campaign on a broad scale, our focus remains local, as we anticipate and hope for tangible impacts within our communities.”
Steen, with a history of blending beer, conservation, and environmentalism, spearheaded projects like Cheers to the Land, The Oregon I Am, and Beers Made By Walking. “Given beer’s agricultural roots, I’ve long been intrigued by the intersection of conservation and craft beer,” Steen continued. “It presents a natural avenue for effecting real change and collaborating with individuals who share a passion for sustainability but may require guidance in taking the first steps.”
Participating breweries have the freedom to select beer styles based on their chosen sustainable ingredients and consumer preferences. As a result, consumers can anticipate a diverse range of styles crafted by brewery partners, adding excitement to the initiative.
“The dedication and innovation displayed by these breweries are truly inspiring, and the variety of styles is captivating,” remarked Steen. “For instance, Aslan Brewing, known for their use of certified organic ingredients, is crafting a classic Amber Ale utilizing all Salmon-Safe certified hops. Meanwhile, GearHouse Brewing is concocting an Imperial Honey Wheat Ale brewed with locally sourced Pennsylvania honey and aged in whiskey barrels from a Pennsylvania distillery.”
Each participating brewery will receive a distinctive label created by Earth To Beer, tailored to align with the brewery’s branding while maintaining a cohesive visual identity for the movement.
Scholarships were extended to cover expenses for BIPOC-owned and newly established breweries, funded by Earth To Beer sponsor, Arryved. Additional sponsors include Canworks and Craft Canning & Printing, offering special pricing for digitally printed cans, providing an environmentally responsible alternative to non-recyclable plastic labels that disrupt aluminum recycling streams. Yakima Chief Hops and Salmon-Safe also lend support, with YCH offering hop discounts on Salmon-Safe certified farms to participating breweries.
