Craft beer depends on reliable water – and so do our rivers
Take action alongside the 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!
- Craft beer depends on reliable water – and so do our rivers. The Western Rivers Brewers’ Council (WRBC) is a coalition of conservation-minded breweries that support Audubon’s work protecting rivers across the Colorado River and Rio Grande basins through advocacy and outreach.
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 the Southwest.
- How are brewers taking action? WRBC members take conservation action in a variety of ways including, sharing conservation opportunities with their followers, sharing printed materials in-house, signing onto coalition letters, publishing their opinions in local papers, participating in in-person meetings with policy makers, and brewing collaborative brews that celebrate the Southwest’s rivers and birds.
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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
- Black Hawk IPA: Wren House Brewing Company
- Summer on the Salt: O.H.S.O Brewery & Distillery, Oro Brewing Company, and Pedal Haus Brewing Company
- U9 Lager: Wren House Brewing Company
- Blondie IPA: Wren House Brewing Company
- Black Hawk Fresh Hop IPA: Wren House Brewing Company
- Desert Dweller: Desert Monks Brewing Company
- Oh Hey, Pinyon Jay: Drinking Horn Meadery and Bosque Brewing Company
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Collaborative brews
- How do brewers get involved? To learn more or sign your brewery up, contact Steven Prager at steven.prager@audubon.org.
In the Arid West, we all rely on healthy rivers
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Water is the West’s most valuable resource. Habitats like the forests and wetlands that line the Colorado and Rio Grande rivers support some of the most abundant and diverse bird communities in the arid West, serving as home to some 400 species. The Colorado alone provides drinking water for more than 36 million people, irrigates 5.5 million acres of farms and ranches, and supports 16 million jobs throughout seven states, with a combined annual economic impact of $1.4 trillion.
- Western Rivers are at risk. Brewers know that an adequate and reliable water supply is critical to their craft. Audubon knows 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 the Colorado River and Rio Grande basins.
Western rivers need you to take action
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What is the Western Rivers Action Network? The Western Rivers Action Network (WRAN) is Audubon's multi-state grassroots effort to protect rivers, habitats, and communities across the Colorado River and Rio Grande basins. 65,000 members strong, we advocate for science-based and non-partisan water management and policy that benefits rivers and the communities, businesses, habitats, birds, and other wildlife that they support.
- How can you make your voice heard? Whether you are an individual or representing an organization, your voice is critical to WRAN's mission of protecting rivers across the Colorado River and Rio Grande basins. Join the Western Rivers Action Network today!
***Don't own a brewery but know of one that belongs on the Western Rivers Brewers' Council? Download this brochure and help us spread the word!
WRBC Members

Arizona:
Arizona Wilderness Brewing Company - Gilbert and Phoenix, Arizona
Wren House Brewing Company - Phoenix and Prescott, 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 and Chandler, 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
Desert Monks Brewing Company - Gilbert, Arizona
Simple Machine Brewing Company - Phoenix, Arizona
Huss Brewing Company - Tempe, Arizona
Drinking Horn Meadery - Flagstaff, Arizona
Mudshark Brewery and Public House - Lake Havasu City, Arizona
New Mexico:
Red River Brewing Company - Red River, New Mexico
Bosque Brewing Company - Albuquerque, Bernalillo, Santa Fe, and Las Cruces, New Mexico
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
Upslope Brewing Company - Boulder, Colorado
Partner Organizations
Western Rivers Brewers' Council in the News:
- Birds & Beer: Borderlands Brewing’s ‘Rain Crow IPA’ illustrates the vital connection. Jessie Mance, Tucson Foodie. August, 2022.
- Earth Notes: Pinyon Jays and Specialty Brews. Melissa Sevigny, KNAU NPR. July, 2022.
- Coconino Voices: Arizona brewers need legislature to lead on water policy. Nick Irvine and Scott Stocking, Arizona Daily Sun. June, 2022.
- The Craft Breweries Serving Their Communities with Volunteering Projects. Monica Cardoza, Wine Enthusiast. March, 2022.
- Another Wren House Beer That Pays Tribute to a Burrowing Owl? Yes. Lauren Cusimano, Phoenix New Times. March, 2021.
- North American Bird Conservation Initiative Presentation. February, 2021.
- Tap That AZ Podcast: Arizona's First Bird-Friendly Beer Garden. January, 2021.
- Wren House, Audubon honor owls with brew. Tara Alatorre, The Foothills Focus. December, 2020.
- Tap That AZ Podcast: Wren House Brewing + Cute Owls = U9 Lager. November, 2020.
- Wren House and Audubon Southwest Release a Lager Named for One Brazen Burrowing Owl. Lauren Cusimano, Phoenix New Times. November, 2020.
- How Arizona Wilderness DTPHX Became a Bird-Friendly Beer Garden. Lauren Cusimano, Phoenix New Times. October, 2020.
- Federal agency keeps protections on Arizona's ‘rain crow,’ rejecting opposition. Anton L. Delgado, Arizona Republic. September, 2020.
- Tap That AZ Podcast - Episode 178: Steven Prager from the Western Rivers Brewers' Council. May, 2020.
- 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.
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