From New Belgium:
Water’s kind of a big deal to brewers. Sure, so are hops and grains, but since water makes up about 95% of beer, it’s safe to say that clean water is the base for great beer. But our passion for clean water extends beyond the kettle: We like to dip our toes in a clean stream during a spring hike, go skinny dipping in lakes during the summer, and visit our favorite ice-fishing spots in the winter…while enjoying a beer, of course. Yep, we’re pretty serious about keeping our waterways clean.
Here at New Belgium, our sustainability department’s always on the lookout for new ways we can lend a hand. We’re connecting with the Wetlands Initiative, an organization that’s dedicated to protecting “the Earth’s kidneys.” We’ve also increased our consumption of salmon-safe hops to 10-percent of our total hop usage (who even knew salmon-safe hops were a thing?). But, if there’s one water-centric organization that’s been near-and-dear to our hearts the longest, it’s the Waterkeeper Alliance.
Our relationship with the Waterkeeper Alliance dates back to 2009. We were initially drawn to the alliance for two reasons: it’s dedication to water protection, and its grassroots approach.
“Waterkeeper Alliance is an umbrella organization for local chapters,” says Katie Wallace, New Belgium’s assistant director of sustainability. “Every community and watershed faces a different issue, and Waterkeeper empowers people to address those problems. It’s community-based and that’s pretty cool.”
In 2009, New Belgium teamed up with a coalition of organizations, including the Waterkeeper Alliance, for the Save the Colorado campaign, and also gave a $40,000 grant to the Alliance’s Poudre Waterkeeper chapter in an effort to help prevent Colorado’s Glade Reservoir from diverting water from the Cache la Poudre River, a source for the brewery’s water. Since then, our relationship has continued, most recently culminating in roughly $75,000 in awarded grant money for local Waterkeeper initiatives across the country.
This year, we’re keeping that spirit alive with the re-release of our summer seasonal Skinny Dip, due out April 13. For the release, we’ve created a swimmable water campaign across our social media platforms, encouraging fans to upload photos with #WaterkeeperDip to help raise awareness for clean water defense. We’ll feature our favorite photos on our accounts, and donate $1 to the Waterkeeper Alliance per tagged photo, up to $10,000.
So, start your summer off right by shedding some clothes and taking the plunge with a Skinny Dip. To learn more about our eco-friendly initiatives, swing by the sustainability section on our website.
This update from New Belgium:
Ft. Collins, Colo., April 13, 2015 – Skinny Dip, New Belgium Brewing’s summer seasonal, makes another splash this year as a go-to beer for summer fun while supporting clean water and conservation. Now through July, Skinny Dip is turning its attention to theWaterkeeper Alliance, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that stands for swimmable, drinkable and fishable waterways worldwide. To support this organization, New Belgium will donate $1, up to $10,000, to Waterkeeper Alliance for every fan photo posted to Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #WaterkeeperDip.
Skinny Dip and water advocacy go way back. Several years ago, New Belgium helped support efforts to reconnect the Colorado River to the sea, remove Condit Damn on the White Salmon, and bring awareness to the threatened Trestles surf break. This year, help is going to local waterways thanks to the brewery’s partnership with Waterkeeper Alliance.
“Beer lovers everywhere benefit from the fight for clean water,” said Billy Apel, New Belgium’s Arizona Field Brander. “This year, Skinny Dip is back and ready to take on more advocacy. So grab a friend and go bottoms up!”
As for the beer itself, Skinny Dip intentionally doesn’t fit a specific beer category; instead it’s an alternative to traditional “light” beers, representing the many different summer activities that Skinny Dip pairs well with. Its closest cousin is the American-Style Pale Craft Lager, highlighting some of the brewers’ favorite American hops and specialty malts.
Skinny Dip pours a slightly hazy amber-orange and a light white head drifts atop. Fruit, spicy herbal notes and toasty malt aromas complement a sweet and tart taste with a juicy mouthfeel and crisp finish. Lively Cascade hops and complementary peaches brighten the bready malts and give Skinny Dip a citrus flavor with a slight fruity pucker. This beer is perfectly paired with grilling and summer garden vegetables and is sure to go first at any potluck or barbecue.
Shed your inhibitions and maybe even your swimsuit – Skinny Dip is only 108 calories per 12-ounce bottle and comes in at 4.2 percent ABV with 20 IBUs. It’s available now in bottles and on draft. Pricing varies by location. To find this beer and other New Belgium beers near you use the New Belgium Libation Location tool: NewBelgium.com/Beer/Locator.aspx.
For more information about New Belgium Brewing, visit NewBelgium.com. You can also follow New Belgium on Facebook atFacebook.com/NewBelgium.com and Twitter @NewBelgium.
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