Eric Steen is a beer lover who also loves to connect with nature. The Portland resident says, “Over here in Oregon, I’ve been finding different ways to bring beer and conservation together.”
In the beer world, Steen is best known for his prior Beers Made By Walking projects, where he takes brewers on hikes foraging for plants, fruits and herbs to be used in beers that reflect the breweries’ local flora.
“Because beer is an agricultural product, I’ve been inspired by the relationship between conservation and craft beer for years,” says Steen. “It just feels like a really organic pathway to make some real change and work with a lot of people who often have the passion to make more sustainable choices but need help establishing a jumping off point.”
In honor of Earth Day, Steen’s latest project — and most ambition project to date — is Earth to Beer. To be part of Earth to Beer, breweries were challenged to brew a beer with sustainably-sourced ingredients and to donate proceeds from the beer to a nature-focused charity. “We asked breweries to pack as much sustainability into a can as possible,” says Steen.
In its inaugural year, 35 breweries have signed up for Earth to Beer.
Steen has designed labels for each beer so they have a uniform Earth to Beer look, while also showcasing each brewery’s logo and artwork. The beers are being released in each brewery’s markets during April, ahead of Earth Day on April 22.
Three of the Earth to Beer cans, from Ferment Brewing Company, Aslan Brewing and Headlands Brewing.
Arizona
Arizona Wilderness of Gilbert is supporting Natural Restorations, whose mission is to remove trash and graffiti from outdoor recreation and wilderness areas, revitalize natural spaces through replanting projects and enrich the lives of military veterans and other community members.
Alaska
Devil’s Club Brewing (Juneau) is using its beer to support Southeast Alaska Land Trust, which has worked to permanently conserve over 3,600 acres of wetlands, recreation lands, wildlife habitats, open space, and subsistence lands throughout Southeast Alaska since 1995.
California
Coronado Brewing (Coronado) is donating proceeds from its Earth to Beer beer to San Diego Coastkeeper, an organization which protects and restores fishable, swimmable and drinkable waters in San Diego County.
Headlands Brewing of Lafayette is supporting Alameda County Community Food Bank, which distributes millions of healthy meals every year and is on the forefront of new approaches to ending hunger and poverty.
Colorado
Our Mutual Friend Brewing (Denver) is using Earth to Beer to support Colorado Grain Chain to grow and connect a vibrant community-centered grain economy in the State of Colorado.
Hawaii
Hana Koa Brewing of Honolulu has partnered with the Surfrider Foundation, a not-for-profit dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s oceans, waves and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network.
Idaho
Lost Grove Brewing (Boise) is helping Idaho Trials Association in its mission to promote the conservation and enjoyment of Idaho’s backcountry on foot.
Maryland
Ten Eyck Brewing (Queenstown) is supporting ShoreRivers, which is focused on protecting and restoring Maryland’s waterways through science-based advocacy, restoration and education.
Massachusetts
Hot Plate Brewing (Pittsfield) is using its Earth to Beer brew to empower youth and build community through food and farming by donating to Roots Rising.
Michigan
Brewery Vivant of Grand Rapids has chosen the Land Conservancy of West Michigan as its Earth to Beer partner. The Land Conservancy of West Michigan conserves land by creating public nature preserves, provides support to communities and local governments in creating natural areas, and helps private landowners protect their own land.
Ludington Bay Brewing (Ludington) is promoting Michigan Trout Unlimited, which is dedicated to the conservation, protection, and restoration of Michigan’s coldwater fish and their watersheds.
Montana
The Gallatin Watershed covers nearly 1.2 million acres in Southwest Montana. MAP Brewing (Bozeman) is supporting the Gallatin Watershed Council with its Earth to Beer brew.
New Mexico
Ex Novo Brewing (Corrales) is donating its Earth to Beer proceeds to Best Buddies, a nonprofit dedicated to establishing a global volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development, and inclusive living for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
New York
Strong Rope Brewery of Brooklyn is assisting Billion Oyster Project to restore oyster reefs to New York Harbor through public education initiatives.
North Carolina
The Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill area of North Carolina is also called the Research Triangle, or simply the Triangle. Fullsteam Brewery (Durham) is brewing an Earth to Beer beer in support of the Triangle Land Conservancy, which strives to create a healthier and more vibrant Triangle region by safeguarding clean water, protecting natural habitats, supporting local farms and food, and connecting people with nature through land protection and stewardship, catalyzing community action and collaboration.
Ponysaurus Brewing, also of Durham, NC, is supporting Cape Fear River Watch, dedicated to the improvement and preservation of the health, beauty, cleanliness, and heritage of the Cape Fear River basin, covering more than 9,000 square miles and one of the largest watersheds in North Carolina.
Steel String Brewery (Mebane) has partnered with the Haw River Assembly. The Haw River watershed includes nine hundred and twenty miles of streams feeding into the Haw River and the not-for-profit is building a watershed community that supports clean water through outreach, education and water quality monitoring programs.
Ohio
MadTree Brewing (Cincinnati) is improving Cincinnati parks by supporting the Cincinnati Parks Foundation.
Oklahoma
Heirloom Rustic Ales (Tulsa) is donating its Earth to Beer proceeds to the Conservation Coalition of Oklahoma, which brings conservation organizations together to develop sound, commonsense conservation policy.
Oregon
Ferment Brewing (Hood River) is promoting outdoor adventure by supporting Adventures Without Limits, which provides opportunity and adventure for all people, regardless of their ability levels, socio-economic status, gender, ethnicity or age.
Hopworks Brewery (Portland) has partnered with Oregon Wild. Oregon Wild works to protect and restore Oregon’s wildlands, wildlife and waters as an enduring legacy for future generations.
Level Brewing (Portland) is donating funds to the Columbia Slough Watershed Council.
Little Beast Brewing (Portland) is supporting the Coalition of Oregon Land Trusts, which represents more than 30 nonprofits advocating for nature conservation.
Steeplejack Brewing (Portland) has partnered with Sustainable Northwest, a Portland-based nonprofit that believes healthy landscapes are good for nature, people and local economies.
Pennsylvania
South Mountain Partnership is a network of people and organizations protecting and promoting the agricultural, natural, cultural and recreation resources of the Adams, Cumberland, Franklin and York counties of Southcentral Pennsylvania. GearHouse Brewing (Chambersburg) is donating proceeds from its Earth to Beer to this not-for-profit.
Stick City Brewing (Mars) has chosen the Moraine, McConnells Mill and Jennings Commission as its partner charity. The nonprofit supports the Moraine and McConnells Mill State Parks and the Jennings Environmental Education Center.
Rhode Island
Moniker Brewery (Providence) is working with Save the Bay, whose mission has been to protect and improve Narragansett Bay since 1970.
Tennessee
Harding House Brewing of Nashville has not yet determined the charitable recipient of its Earth to Beer funds.
Texas
Oddwood Brewing (Austin) is partnering with the Colorado River Alliance, whose goal is to educate today’s youth to become tomorrow’s leaders, ensuring a legacy of a healthy river, sustainable use of water resources, and communities dedicated to protection and conservation.
Virginia
Fine Creek Brewing (Powhatan) is donating funds to Shalom Farms, a nonprofit working to build healthy communities by growing and sharing healthy food.
Washington
Aslan Brewing of Bellingham is supporting Washington Conservation Action, the leading policy and political voice in Washington’s environmental community, mobilizing for conservation and environmental justice.
Elliott Bay Brewing (Seattle) is using Earth to Beer to promote the Coalition for Organic & Regenerative Agriculture which brings together farmers, organizations and activists to advocate for policies, programs and resources that support broad adoption of organic, regenerative and sustainable agricultural practices.
Ghostfish Brewing, also of Seattle is supporting the Puget Sound Restoration Fund’s efforts to restore iconic marine resources and a healthy ecosystem.
Talking Cedar Brewing (Rochester) has not announced the Earth to Beer charity it will support.
Vice Beer (Vancouver) is supporting Columbia Land Trust, which works to conserve and care for the vital lands, waters and wildlife of the Columbia River region through sound science and strong relationships.