Monhegan Brewing Co. and the Island Institute have partnered to release a new beer that is expected to benefit Maine’s 15 year-round island communities through a portion of its sales.
The new “summer blonde” beer is called “15,” named after Isle au Haut and the 14 other islands, according to a Tuesday announcement by both organizations. The beer will be available at Monhegan Brewing’s taproom on Monhegan Island at the end of the month, and there are two launch events, one in Rockland and one in Portland, planned for mid-August.
“Our goal since Day 1 has been to encourage visitors to the island and sell beer locally, rather than shipping it off,” Mary Weber, who owns Monhegan Brewing with her husband, Matt, said in a prepared statement. “99% of our beer is sold out of our taproom.”
A portion of the beer’s sales will go to the Island Institute, a Rockland-based nonprofit organization that aims to sustain Maine’s island communities by focusing on community development, economic development, education, energy marine resources and media.
“Matt and Mary have started a really innovative business on Monhegan and have highlighted non-traditional economic opportunities on Maine’s islands,” Bri Warner, the Island Institute’s economic development director, said in a prepared statement.
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