A conservation group and a Mountain West brewery are teaming up to raise money to preserve public lands. Their idea? A new pale ale, called "Public Land Owner."
The new brew comes from Montana-based Highlander Beer and the nonprofit group, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers. Three percent of sales will go toward advancing the mission of the nonprofit, which seeks to keep public lands open for all Americans.
"It doesn't matter if you're a Democrat, Republican, an Independent. Doesn't matter if you hunt, fish, backpack, mountain bike. Doesn't matter how much money you made last year, who your parents are. These public lands belong to all of you, so I think this beer really tells a story," says Land Tawney, president and CEO of Backcountry Hunters and Anglers.
Tawney says his organization has been urging Congress to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which takes some revenues from offshore oil drilling and invests in public lands across the country.
Public Land Owner Pale Ale is available in six-pack cans or on tap throughout Montana. The brewery hopes to expand to stores throughout the Mountain West.
This story was produced by the Mountain West News Bureau, a collaboration between Wyoming Public Radio, Boise State Public Radio in Idaho, KUER in Salt Lake City, KUNR in Nevada, and KRCC and KUNC in Colorado.
