Portsmouth Kate The Great Sale Leads to Wildlife Charity Donation
PORTSMOUTH,NH – When the Portsmouth Brewery celebrated Kate The Great Day at its downtown locale on March 7, the goodwill flowed beyond the city streets all the way to wildlife habitats in southeastern New Hampshire and southern Maine.
The brewery will be donating $20,000 between The Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire, headquartered in Exeter, and The Center for Wildlife in York, ME. The donations were generated by the sale of 10,000 scratch tickets that gave 900 winners the right to purchase a bottle of the limited edition Kate the Great Russian Imperial Stout. Beer lovers bought the entire run of tickets in just twenty-seven hours.
When this stout, named The Best Beer in America and the 2nd Best Beer in the Universe by Beer Advocate in 2006, is tapped, so too is the capacity of the brewery. People start lining up at midnight for the beer, which rarely lasts more than 8 hours.
The 2010 release however, saw congestion and record crowds on city sidewalks. “We printed scratch tickets as a fun way to pre-sell all 900 bottles because the lines that formed each release day congested sidewalk traffic in downtown,” said Peter Egelston, owner of Portsmouth Brewery, “we had to make a change for Kate’s release but we discovered very early in the process that we could make a difference beyond downtown Portsmouth.”
“I think I can speak for both organizations when I share our happiness and gratitude for what this creative promotion has provided for us,” explains Brian Hart, Executive Director of the Land Trust. “The funds from the sale of the Kate the Great scratch tickets will support our work of conserving the special places of the Seacoast and the creatures that inhabit them.”
While neither organization has decided exactly how they will use their funds, the Brewery’s awareness of its own impact on downtown has created an interesting parallel with the goals of the non-profit partners. As Karen McElmurry, director of the Center for Wildlife points out, “we’re all trying to be better citizens of the Seacoast.”
Governor John Lynch cited the charitable donations as part of a proclamation naming March 7, 2011 Kate the Great Day in the State of New Hampshire.
About Our Partners:
The Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire’s mission is to conserve the significant land and natural resources of southeastern New Hampshire, including water, working farms and forests, wildlife habitat, natural areas, and community landscapes. As a regional land trust, we serve the 39 communities of southeastern New Hampshire. Established in 1980, the Land Trust has helped conserve more than 6,000 acres of land.
The Center for Wildlife is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to rehabilitate and provide sanctuary for sick and injured wild animals, and to promote respect for wildlife and the environment. Since opening in 1986, the center has cared for over 19,000 animals, successfully releasing 9,000 back into the wild. In addition to their medical mission, the Center provides a wildlife assistance hotline 365 days a year as well as research and training opportunities for college interns and outreach and education programs to the public, promoting knowledge and appreciation of wild animals and their habitats, encouraging conservation and coexistence.
About Kate the Great:
Russian Imperial Stouts are the darkest and heartiest beers around. Originally brewed by British brewers for the Tsarist courts of Russia, these heavy beers were particularly adored by Empress Catherine the Great. Our version, named Kate the Great in tribute, was first brewed in 2005. Kate’s popularity exploded after BeerAdvocate magazine named Kate Best Beer in America and the 2nd Best Beer in the World in 2006. Now, beer lovers from around the world and curious Portsmouth residents alike, line-up for their once-a-year chance to taste this beguiling beer. Kate herself exhibits the roasted astringency of espresso that’s rounded out by rich flavors of dark chocolate and dark fruit character from a port wood-aging process. Only 310 gallons are made each year, with half of the batch being bottled while the other half goes on draft and sells out in one day.
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For More Information, please contact:
JT Thompson, Minister of Propaganda for The Portsmouth Brewery.
603-436-4026 x26
Karen McElmurry, Director, Center for Wildlife, Center for Wildlife
207-361-1400
Brian Hart, Executive Director, Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire
603-778-6088
