Brewers know that an adequate and reliable water supply is critical to their craft.  Audubon's Western Rivers Action Network members know that it is critical to healthy rivers, habitats, birds, and other wildlife. By taking action together, we can help protect rivers and all they support throughout Arizona and the Colorado River Basin.

Stand with the Western Rivers Brewers' Council and join Audubon's Western Rivers Action Network.  Together, we'll advocate for policies that keep great beer (and rivers) flowing.

Western Rivers Brewers' Council  Q&A

Q: What is the Western Rivers Action Network (WRAN)?
A: WRAN is Audubon's multi-state grassroots effort to protect the Colorado River and its tributaries.  65,000 members strong, we advocate for science-based and non-partisan water management and policy that benefits rivers and the birds, other wildlife, habitats, cities, and economies they support.  You can learn more about some of WRAN's recent victories here.

Q: What is the Western Rivers Brewers' Council (WRBC)?
A:  The WRBC is a coalition of conservation-minded breweries that support WRAN's mission to protect rivers across the Colorado River Basin through advocacy and outreach. Learn more about their work here.

Q: Why breweries?
A: Though we've had great success with the Western Rivers Action Network, we've noticed two shortcomings.  First, as Audubon, we're limited in the number of people we can reach on our own.  Second, not all of our leaders and lawmakers are motivated by environmental concerns.  As community hubs, you'll help us spread action opportunities much further than we could on our own.  As members of a growing small business sector, you'll have the ear of many policy makers that we do not

Q: What is asked of member breweries?
A: WRBC members will have the opportunity to take conservation action in a variety of ways including:

• Sharing conservation opportunities with your followers
• Sharing printed materials in-house
• Signing onto coalition letters
  • Minute 323 thank you letter
  • Wildlife Conservation and Restoration Program support letter
  • Drought Contingency Plan support letter
• Publishing your opinions in local papers
• Joining us for in-person meetings with policy makers
• Collaborative brews
  • Hummingbird Springs Saison: Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company
  • Rain Crow IPA: Borderlands Brewing Company,  Wren House Brewing Company, and Crooked Tooth Brewing Company
  • Great-horned Owl IPA: Borderlands Brewing Company and the Arizona Field Ornithologists
  • Ridgway's Rail IPA: Prison Hill Brewing Company
  • Summer on the Salt: O.H.S.O Brewery & Distillery, Oro Brewing Company, and Pedal Haus Brewing Company

Q: Are member breweries required to take part in all WRAN actions?
A: No! We understand that resources can be limited and that opinions on individual water issues can vary.  Member breweries are given the opportunity to, not obligated to, participate in WRAN calls to action.

Q: What's in it for the brewers?
A: By joining the WRBC, breweries will:

• be a visible supporter of sustainable water management and healthy rivers. 

• have opportunities to market to Audubon’s 65,000 Western Rivers Action Network (WRAN) members and to Audubon’s broader statewide, regional, and national base.

• be able to showcase their work conserving water and protecting habitat both in the brewery and on the ground

• have opportunities to network with like-minded breweries

Q: How can my brewery join the WRBC?
A: To learn more or join, contact Steven Prager at sprager@audubon.org

***Don't own a brewery but know of one that belongs on the Western Rivers Brewers' Council? Download this flier and help us spread the word!

WRBC Members:

Arizona:

Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company - Gilbert, Arizona

Wren House Brewing Company - Phoenix, Arizona

Dragoon Brewing Company - Tucson, Arizona

1912 Brewing Company - Tucson, Arizona

Tombstone Brewing Company - Tombstone, Arizona

Prison Hill Brewing Company - Yuma, Arizona

Borderlands Brewing Company - Tucson, Arizona

O.H.S.O Brewery & Distillery - Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Arcadia, and Gilbert, Arizona

Button Brew House - Tucson, Arizona

Catalina Brewing Company - Tucson, Arizona

Crooked Tooth Brewing Company - Tucson, Arizona

Sedona Beer Company - Sedona, Arizona

Pedal Haus Brewery - Tempe, Arizona

Oro Brewing Company - Mesa, Arizona

MotoSonora Brewing Company - Tucson, Arizona

Sinagua Malt - Campe Verde, Arizona

Greenwood Brewing - Phoenix, Arizona

Mother Road Brewing Company - Flagstaff, Arizona

Colorado:

Horse & Dragon Brewing Company - Fort Collins, Colorado

Odell Brewing Company - Fort Collins, Colorado

Kannah Creek's Edgewater Brewery - Grand Junction, Colorado

Many Rivers Brewing Company - Grand Junction, Colorado

Marble Distilling Company & the Distillery Inn - Carbondale, Colorado

Partner Organizations

Arizona Craft Brewers' Guild

Western Rivers Brewers' Council in the News:

• Birds and Brews: How breweries are trying to conserve western river habitats. Zach Fitzner, Earth.com. April, 2019.
• 7 Bird-Friendly Foods to Put in Your Pantry. Gustave Axelson and Marc Devokaitis, All About Birds. March, 2019.
• How Craft Beer Is Helping Save Water In the Colorado River Basin. Dominic Arenas, National Audubon Society. March, 2019.
• How Beer Will Save Western Rivers. Keridwen Cornelius, OutsideOnline.com. January, 2018.
• Audubon unveils bird-themed beer to raise awareness for Colorado River supply. Joshua Bowling, Arizona Republic. August, 2018.

Logo Artwork by Marion MacCollum.