For More Information Contact:
EWEB: Joe Harwood, 541-685-7471
Oakshire: Cameron Langham, 541-954-7610
McKenzie River Trust: Joe Moll, 541-345-2799

Sept. 8, 2011

Oakshire brews beer to promote the importance of watershed protection

As the Eugene Water & Electric Board continues to celebrate its centennial in 2011, Oakshire Brewing is stepping up to create three separate beers to honor the utility’s first 100 years of service to Eugene. The first beer, Green Power Pale Ale, released in July and was found on draft only. The second centennial beer, Land Trust Lager, will be released on Sept. 8. The Oktoberfest style beer will be available in bottles and on draft.

Land Trust Lager gets its name from the unique partnership between EWEB, Oakshire Brewing and the McKenzie River Trust. Land trusts are nonprofit organizations directly involved in the permanent protection of land and natural resources for the public benefit. The McKenzie River Trust (MRT) is a local land trust working to protect land in eight different watersheds in Western Oregon, including the McKenzie River watershed where EWEB draws the drinking water for all of Eugene.

All profits from the sale of the three brews will help fund the Berggren Demonstration Farm project, a sustainable floodplain demonstration farm located on land owned and preserved by the McKenzie River Trust along the lower McKenzie River.

"Oakshire Brewing is thrilled to help promote the Berggren Demonstration Farm project along the banks of the McKenzie River. Collaborative efforts like these are essential to protecting our drinking water here in the Willamette Valley. Much like the citizens who worked to protect the drinking water of Eugene 100 years ago, the McKenzie River Trust and EWEB continue to work on innovative projects that will ensure the high-quality drinking water we have today will be around for our future generations to enjoy," said Cameron Langham of Oakshire Brewing.

“Protecting the purity of the McKenzie River is not only good for the health of EWEB customers, it’s also essential to small but growing businesses like Oakshire,” said EWEB’s Joe Harwood. “You need great water to make great beer.”

“It is always a great pleasure to work with locally owned businesses like Oakshire Brewing, said Brandi Ferguson, development manager with the McKenzie River Trust. “Oakshire is a business that wants to reinvest in our community by helping to protect our local watersheds.”

Land Trust Lager will first be released at 16Tons located at 13th Avenue and High Street during the Eugene Pearl District Block Party Thursday. A “Keep the Pint Night” will be held at 6 p.m. Friday at Cosmic Pizza in downtown Eugene. Also look for Land Trust Lager on sale at Eugene area grocers and on draft at select local restaurants and pubs. Look for the third and final brew, Skookumchuck Wild Ale, to release in November.

Watch videos featuring Oakshire Brewmaster Matt Van Wyk and MRT Executive Director Joe Moll