Maine Beer, ‘Do what’s right’
Jul 30, 2019
Their focus on these three aspects has been the baseline for the brewery’s success and growth since their start in 2009, beginning with co-owners and co-founders David and Daniel Kleban’s conscientious decision to join 1% for the Planet. A global nonprofit made up of a business members who pledge to give at least 1% of annual sales to environmental nonprofits of their choosing, 1% for the Planet has been the vehicle for Maine Beer Company’s charitable giving, and as the brewery has grown over the years, so too have their donations.
Maine Beer Company regularly donates to organizations such as the Center for Wildlife, Wolfe’s Neck Center for Agriculture and the Environment, and Maine Coast Heritage Trust, to name a few. Maine Beer Company also ties their involvement with the nonprofits to specific beers, such as their porter King Titus which represents a Silverback Gorilla that was protected and researched by the Dian Fossey Gorilla Fund, or their popular IPA Lunch that is named after a whale tracked and spotted by Allied Whale off the coast of Maine. While a handful of beers are correlated with nonprofits, the company also feels it is import that the majority of events featuring Maine Beer Company draw attention to charitable environmental causes that range all across the country.
With a recently expanded production facility in 2018 and the debut of their spacious and welcoming tasting room this past March, Maine Beer Company has been able to expose both their message of ‘Do what’s right’ and their hop-forward beer to a larger audience. The tasting room in Freeport offers a wide selection of their beer offerings both on tap and in bottles to-go, thoughtfully crafted wood-fired pizza made with locally-sourced ingredients, and a large gathering space for friends and family to enjoy it all. The copper willow tree water fountain is an artfully designed centerpiece for the tasting room, and is complimented by surrounding plants and plenty of natural light. The brewery’s mission is clearly presented in its tasting room by way of murals, company history, and on every bottle of beer packaged and sold.
The large solar array that covers the roof of Maine Beer Company shows their commitment to combating climate change, and with an energy-intensive process such as brewing, the company has pledged to produce more clean energy than it uses by 2030. While Maine Beer Company will continue to outfit their facility with additional solar panels to reach that 2030 goal, they have also given a monetary gift to provide their neighbor Wolfe’s Neck Center with solar panels to cut down on their energy costs and use of fossil fuels. This is the first of a handful of solar projects they hope to participate in to support their local nonprofit partners.
What started as brothers David and Daniel Kleban home-brewing in a garage on the weekends now has Maine Beer Company projected to produce over 22,000 barrels of beer in 2019. Their slow and calculated growth and dedication to producing consistent and quality beer has remained strong throughout the years. Maine Beer Company hopes to inspire other businesses and prove that doing what’s right by giving back to the environment, community and employees will lead to a positive outcome.
