Earth Month is a time to celebrate nature as a life-giving and sustaining force. In the world of beer production, many companies are making waves for sustainability. However, one company that stands out is North Coast Brewing. Over the years, it has implemented sustainability strategies to decrease its carbon footprint and benefit its community.
Columbia Distributing is proud to distribute North Coast Brewing throughout Washington; a brewer that has truly made a difference for the planet.
Popular Beers Made By North Coast Brewing
All of North Coast Brewing’s core beers are non-GMO verified. This means they use the highest quality ingredients available without genetic modifications. Their popular brews include:
Scrimshaw
Scrimshaw is a pilsner made with Tettnang and Hallertauer hops, as well as Munich malt. Its dry finish with crisp, clean character keeps beer lovers returning for more. ABV: 4.5%
Old Rasputin
Old Rasputin is another signature beer at North Coast Brewing, offering intense and rich flavors and a warm finish. Its dark hue makes it ideal as a Russian imperial stout, and the beer has won awards from the World Beer Championships. ABV: 9%
Red Seal Ale
Featuring a copper-red color, Red Seal Ale is North Coast Brewing’s pale ale with a full body. It’s made with plentiful hops, adding a unique spice to the flavor. ABV: 5.4%
North Coast Stellar IPA
North Coast Stellar is a delicious IPA with an amber color. Customers who purchase Stellar IPA from North Coast Brewing contribute to their community’s oceans and wildlife research and preservation. ABV: 6.5%
Lessening Environment Impact Through Beer Production
North Coast Brewing is in Fort Bragg, northern California, on the coastline, close to mammal wildlife like orcas and gray whales. Being in a place known for its whale activism, it was natural North Coast Brewing has helped fund research and preservation. The company developed the North Coast Brewing Marine Mammal Research Fund, which supports marine mammal rescue and research. The brewery contributes to this fund for every case or keg of North Coast Stellar IPA sold.
Alongside monetary contributions, North Coast Brewing implements many efforts to reduce its environmental impact. For example, it moved to solar energy in June 2013, which has allowed it to cut the amount of energy used to produce one barrel of beer in half. This has earned the brewery a spot in the top 25% of craft breweries in the U.S. for energy efficiency.
North Coast Brewing’s efforts to create more sustainable beer production have earned it the TRUE Zero Waste Platinum certification. This has helped eliminate 99.36% of its waste in landfills. North Coast Brewing also achieved Benefit Corporation (B Corp) status (in YEAR). Companies who earn this distinction show unique, continuous innovations in supporting their local environments and communities.
North Coast Brewing is continuously strategizing ways to improve its sustainability. It plans to complete a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) or Carbon Footprint study across the company in the next three years. Gathering this information will help the brewery enhance its sustainability goals in the future.
About North Coast Brewing Company
The idea for North Coast Brewing Company came when a couple needed renovations on an old house they wanted to convert into an inn. They called Joe Rosenthal and Mark Ruedrich, a local contractor and foreman, to help complete the job. As they began working on the house, the couple showed Rosenthal a picture of a dog their daughter found in Triple Rock pub. This inspired Rosenthal and Ruedrich to craft their own plans for a brewery.
Ruedrich already made delicious brews at the time, and they just needed a space. They eventually found a mortuary building in Fort Bragg, right next to a Presbyterian church. They finished renovations and opened their doors in 1988. At the time of their opening, pale ales were popular brews. Their first beers were Scrimshaw, Old No. 38 Stout, and Ruedrich’s Red Seal Ale.
It wasn’t long after that the pair realized they had something special and needed to expand. About a year after their opening, they became a corporation and obtained a loan from the Small Business Administration. They then purchased a former gas station across the street from their pub to start a new production brewery. The brewery was completed in 1994 and continues to grow and expand to this day under the leadership of CEO Jennifer Owen.
Now, North Coast Brewing makes a difference in its community, implementing ways to decrease its carbon footprint and protect its surrounding environment. For example, it uses farming practices that prevent carbon release into the atmosphere.
Carbon farming involves taking carbon dioxide from plants and storing it in soil. Plants naturally remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during photosynthesis. But when plants die, they release carbon dioxide back into the environment. Carbon sequestration – something that North Coast Brewing uses – allows carbon to remain stored in the soil and improves plant growth.
Taste Sustainability With Beer From Columbia Distributing
North Coast Brewing Company has changed how the industry makes beer, and its efforts are only going to continue improving. Customers can find many brands and beverages by North Coast Brewing at Columbia Distributing in Washington. To learn more about what we offer, contact us today.