A crisp local pilsner brewed to protect Seneca Lake is now paying off — in more ways than one.
The Seneca Lake Order of Brewers (SLOBs) will present proceeds from its PURE Pils Collaboration Brew to the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association at a short ceremony on Tuesday, Sept. 23. The event will be held at Grist Iron Brewing Company, this year’s host brewery, starting at 5 p.m.
The PURE Brew Collaboration brings together local brewers, farmers, and suppliers around a shared goal: protecting the water quality of Seneca Lake. This year’s beer — a clean, refreshing pilsner — was made using ingredients from across the region.
Barley came from Seneca Grain & Bean in Penn Yan and New York Craft Malt in Batavia. The hops were provided by Cornell AgriTech in Geneva. Even the labels, yeast, and packaging had local roots, with support from TLF in Rochester, RahrBSG, and Ontario County’s recycling program.
“We’re proud to see how a shared love of craft beer can support something much bigger than ourselves,” said Bill Allington, President of Grist Iron Brewing Company. “By working together, we’re not just brewing great beer, we’re helping protect the future of Seneca Lake for generations to come.”
All proceeds from the beer go to the Seneca Lake Pure Waters Association, a nonprofit focused on protecting the lake through education, research, and outreach.
The project reflects a growing movement in the Finger Lakes to link local food and beverage efforts with sustainability. This year’s brew was packaged using 100% reused holders, collected through a local recycling program — one of many ways the group prioritized sustainability from start to finish.
“We’re so grateful to the SLOBs and everyone who supported PURE Pils this year,” said Kelly Blackhurst of Pure Waters. “Seneca Lake is at the heart of our community, and partnerships like this show how much we can accomplish when we work together.”
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