As an independent, craft brewery located on California’s North Coast, in close proximity to the migratory path of gray whales and the southern habitat of orcas, North Coast Brewing Company is committed to giving back to its marine neighbors. The area is the birthplace of whale activism. It’s also where the population of Steller sea lions is steadily declining.
With a mission to make the world a better place, one pint at a time, North Coast Brewing developed a new beer in 2018 to support the area’s marine mammals. North Coast Steller IPA is a specialty brew that supports research and rescue efforts at the University of British Columbia, the Marine Mammal Center in Sausalito and the Noyo Center for Marine Science in Fort Bragg through a portion of all sales — named in honor of the Steller sea lions it helps support.
As the oceans are becoming warmer, more acidic and more hypoxic, sea lions are an invaluable asset to study how the oceans are changing, and how we’ll adapt to those changes. Steller sea lions are the largest of the five species, and have experienced an 80% population decline since the 1980s. North Coast Brewing’s craft IPA takes it name (and label design) from the animals, with donations from every North Coast Steller IPA bottle and keg sold made through the North Coast Brewing Company Marine Mammal Research Fund, a project of The Ocean Foundation.
The partnership first formed when a technician at the University of British Columbia’s Open Water Research Station noticed North Coast Brewing’s Red Seal Ale in stores, and then called and spoke with North Coast Brewing’s brewmaster about working together. Mark Ruedrich, president emeritus anda co-founder of North Coast Brewing, has a degree in zoology, and had plans to become a marine biologist before moving to Mendocino to open the brewery. So when he heard the idea, it was a natural fit.
“Crafting this beer and knowing the organizations it would help support has been a point of pride for us,” says North Coast Brewing CEO, Sam Kraynek. “We have a long-standing commitment to doing the right thing for our community, employees, customers and the planet, and North Coast Steller IPA is one way we honor that.”
Made with Chinook hops, North Coast Steller IPA is pungent, with a resinous flavor and aroma, and it’s available for purchase nationwide. As North Coast Brewing believes that business can be a force of good in the world, the Steller IPA is a beer that allows you to participate in that mission, too.
About North Coast Brewing Company
North Coast Brewing Company is an independent craft brewery producing sustainably crafted beers in Fort Bragg, CA for over 30 years. Known for its award-winning lineup of high-quality beers available in 48 U.S. states and internationally, North Coast Brewing also releases barrel-aged ales and popular seasonal offerings, including a Berliner Weisse series. A pioneer and innovator in the craft brewing industry, North Coast Brewing is a Certified B Corporation — committed to making the world a better place, one pint at a time.