A community-brewed pilsner just raised funds — and awareness — for one of the Finger Lakes’ most important environmental causes.
On Tuesday, September 23, the Seneca Lake Order of Brewers (SLOBs) will present proceeds from this year’s PURE Pils collaboration to the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association during a celebration at Grist Iron Brewing in Burdett.
A beer with a mission
The annual PURE Brew project brings together local breweries and partners to support clean water initiatives through the power of craft beer. This year’s brew was a true team effort — with ingredients, materials, and support coming from all across the region.
New York Craft Malt in Batavia provided malted barley, with raw barley from Seneca Grain & Bean in Penn Yan. Cornell AgriTech donated heritage hops, yeast came from RahrBSG, and TLF in Rochester supplied the labels. Even the packaging — 100% reused Paktechs — came from Ontario County’s recycling program.
“We’re not just brewing great beer,” said Bill Allington, president of Grist Iron Brewing Company. “We’re helping protect the future of Seneca Lake for generations to come.”
Every sip supports clean water
Proceeds from PURE Pils go directly to the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association, a nonprofit focused on protecting the lake’s water quality through education, science, and community involvement.
“Seneca Lake is at the heart of our community,” said Kelly Blackhurst, Pure Waters’ community engagement coordinator. “Partnerships like this show how much we can accomplish when we work together.”
This year’s presentation will take place at 5 p.m. on September 23 at Grist Iron Brewing, located at 4880 State Route 414 in Burdett. Members of the press, brewers, and the public are welcome to attend.
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