Big ups to these Iowa breweries for their river cleanup

Big Grove Brewery, Toppling Goliath Brewing Co., and Lua Brewing went knee-deep in Iowa rivers during the 20^th annual Iowa Project A.W.A.R.E., volunteering time and donating proceeds raised from the release of Project Hop Fisch, a cause-driven Double Hazy IPA, dedicated to supporting Iowa water quality. 

“This is the muscle behind fundraising efforts,” noted Rob Miller, Director of Content at Big Grove Brewery. “It allows you to feel like you’re doing something because you show up at the end of the day with a boatload of trash pulled from the river.” 

A total of $13,000 was donated to Project A.W.A.R.E., Iowa’s largest volunteer river expedition, which aims to remove 1 million pounds of debris in its 20^th year. “As a non-profit, we wouldn’t be able to do this without sponsors,” remarked Laura Semken, Project A.W.A.R.E. board member. “It’s a game changer to get people canoeing in the water to raise awareness about the beauty and importance of our rivers and watersheds and the fact we need to get it cleaner.

Big Grove Brewery, Toppling Goliath Brewing Co., and Lua Brewing have collaborated on recipe development and the release of Project Hop Fisch double hazy IPA for the past two years. The collaboration features a combination of new and experimental hops from around the world and typically releases in the spring. This year, all three breweries agreed to combine donations to support Project A.W.A.R.E.

“You cannot have good beer without clean water,” noted Sarah Moellers, Marketing Director for Toppling Goliath. “Every step we take with Project Hop Fisch, we are working toward clean watersheds, strengthening the brewing community, and strengthening with friends.”