ATLANTA – A new beer has been brewing in Atlanta. Red Brick Brewing Co. and Georgia Aquarium are excited to announce their partnership and new beer: Whale Shark Wheat.
Red Brick Brewing Co., Atlanta’s oldest operating craft brewery, and Georgia Aquarium, the largest aquarium in the Western Hemisphere, have partnered together to create an exclusive craft beer. Whale Shark Wheat highlights Georgia Aquarium’s endangered marquee species, the whale shark. A portion of Whale Shark Wheat sales will go towards Georgia Aquarium’s whale shark conservation efforts, including international whale shark research trips and research equipment, such as satellite tags.
“It is a unique experience to be able to enjoy a craft beer while at the same time contributing to conservation efforts,” said Dr. Alistair Dove, vice president of research and conservation at Georgia Aquarium. “This local partnership will have an important global impact in the important research we are doing with whale sharks.”
“Sustainability is an important thing to us and the craft beer industry in general,” said Red Brick president and brewmaster Garett Lockhart. “It’s great to partner with Georgia Aquarium on something that will raise funds for conservation efforts across the world.”
Georgia Aquarium has conducted international whale shark research around the world, including Mexico, the Galapagos Islands and the island of St. Helena. Whale sharks are listed as “Endangered” on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature’s (IUCN) Red List, and there is much to be learned about the world’s biggest fish. The Aquarium’s research has helped complete the mapping of the first whale shark DNA genome using blood drawn from whale sharks at Georgia Aquarium.
Red Brick aims to be a leader in the U.S. craft beer industry as an environmentally-responsible brewery. In 2014, Red Brick announced its decision to move from bottles to cans for its entire line of core and seasonal beers. Aluminum cans are durable, easy to transport and recycled more often than any other beverage container. Cans are also good for the overall drinking experience since they keep beer fresher longer by eliminating light exposure. The can connectors of Red Brick beers are eco-friendly and made out of biodegradable material that does not pose a threat to animals in the oceans.
Whale Shark Wheat is an American style wheat ale featuring El Dorado, Sorachi Ace and experimental hop varieties. It is a soft, easy drinking beer with a fruity tropical hop character. It is an ideal summer brew.
Whale Shark Wheat will launch on Friday, June 2, with a public event held at Red Brick Brewing Co. Guests can get their first taste of the beer, tour the Red Brick brewery, enjoy eats from Peace of Pita food truck, and the chance to win a Journey with Gentle Giants swim with whale sharks program at Georgia Aquarium.
The beer is a limited-edition release and will be available on draft at Red Brick beginning Friday, June 2. Whale Shark Wheat will be in select stores on Monday, June 5.
For more information on Whale Shark Wheat and Georgia Aquarium’s whale shark research and conservation efforts, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org/whalesharkwheat.
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ABOUT RED BRICK
Founded in 1993, Red Brick began their brewing odyssey at a small building in downtown Atlanta. They have established a 20-year tradition of producing fresh, interesting, and delicious brews for your drinking pleasure. They pride themselves on crafting a variety of year round and seasonal offerings, including their exclusive Brick Mason series.
ABOUT GEORGIA AQUARIUM
Georgia Aquarium is a leading 501(c)(3) non-profit organization located in Atlanta, Ga. that is Certified Humane by the American Humane Association and accredited by the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums and the Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Georgia Aquarium is committed to working on behalf of all marine life through education, preservation, exceptional animal care, and research across the globe. Georgia Aquarium continues its mission each day to inspire, educate, and entertain its millions of guests about the aquatic biodiversity throughout the world through its hundreds of exhibits and tens of thousands of animals across its seven major galleries. For more information, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org.