Lakefront Brewery teams up with Growing Power for USDA-certified organic beer

MILWAUKEE (WITI) — Lakefront Brewery, Inc. has announced the release of its new USDA-certified organic beer, Growing Power, as part of a partnership with Milwaukee-based nonprofit, Growing Power, Inc.

The hoppy pale ale, fermented with a specialty Belgian yeast strain, is available nationally in six-packs and on draft. A portion of the beer’s proceeds will go to supporting Growing Power’s sustainable farming efforts. Both companies are celebrating with a launch party at a local farm-to-table restaurant, Meritage, on Thursday evening, May 7th from 6:00–8:00 p.m.

The cooperative beer marks a long-standing relationship between the two companies.

In 2001, Growing Power began using way the brewery’s spent grain for composting, and in turn, Lakefront Brewery provided beer tastings at the farm’s seminars. The two organizations “grew to see each other not only as business partners, but as social activists in bringing good food, grown and produced locally and sustainably, to our communities,” Russ Klisch stated. “It is hard to image anyone else in Milwaukee that shares our values more than Growing Power,” he concluded.

Will Allen stated the partnership between the two companies serves as “a strong example of how two companies that work together over many years are able to demonstrate stewardship of a sustainable food system.” Allen went on to say, “This sustainable food system will not only provide good food and drink to Milwaukee and beyond, but will also be a catalyst to create more jobs and economic development in our city and around the nation.”

Lakefront Brewery, Inc. was started in 1987 and currently celebrating its 27th anniversary. The brewery currently produces 45,000 barrels of beer per year and distributes its products to 36 states, Canada and Japan. Lakefront Brewery, Inc. became the first USDA-certified organic brewery with the production of their Organic E.S.B. beer in 1996.

Growing Power