Action is Brewing for the Barrier Reef

A Brisbane man plans to tap the $4 billion Australian beer industry in an effort to save the Great Barrier Reef.

James Grugeon has set up a social enterprise, the Good Beer Co, with half the profits of the craft beer company going to the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS).

Grugeon said he was trying to identify ways to make it easy for Australians to support worthy causes when he thought of the “good beer” movement that has seen success in the US and UK.

“Australians are one of the most beer-loving nations on earth. Yet our beer-drinking dollars go largely to for-profit, multinational companies,” Grugeon said.

“This money could be going to good causes right here in Australia, and what better way to raise money for a good cause than to ask people to have a beer for it.”

The Good Beer Co. has launched a crowdfunding campaign for production of its first drop, Great Barrier Beer.

Early supporters will get the opportunity to be the first to enjoy the beer and will also be able to have a say in future beer recipes, labels and causes.

“When establishing The Good Beer Co. with our founding partners, we decided our beers needed to be a quality brew made from quality Australian products, as well as being environmentally friendly through their ingredient sourcing and production,” Grugeon said.

“The Great Barrier Reef is one of the seven natural wonders of the world but also one of the most critical environmental causes in Australia. I couldn’t think of a more important charity to support with our first beer than the AMCS.”

AMCS CEO, Darren Kindleysides, said the organisation was thrilled to be a founding partner and the first charity beneficiary of The Good Beer Co.

“As a passionate environmentalist and a craft beer fan myself, this is an exciting venture. It’s such a refreshingly innovative way to raise much-needed awareness and funds for the protection of our Reef,” Kindleysides said.

“Our iconic Great Barrier Reef is at a tipping point, having lost about half of its coral cover in the past 30 years. Unless we take action now to protect it, the outlook for this natural wonder of the world looks bleak.

“However, by helping to crowd-fund Great Barrier Beer, Australians will be helping to reverse damage to the Reef and protect it for future generations.”

Grugeon said he had partnered with the Bargara Brewing Company, in Bundaberg, to produce Great Barrier Beer because of the craft brewery’s commitment to helping protect the environment, its local community and local suppliers.

He said for subsequent good beer brews, The Good Beer Co. would work with craft brewers from across the country that were committed to supporting important charities.

The Good Beer Co. crowdfunding campaign was officially launched this month.