SUSTAINABILITY

At Fort George Brewery we believe what goes around comes around. When you drink a pint of Fort George beer we want you to appreciate the aroma, the taste, and the sustainable efforts of the people who brewed it. But you can’t manage what you don’t measure, so the first step is to gather the pertinent information, build baselines, and dive deep into the data.

OUR APPROACH TO SUSTAINABILITY

We are taking measured efforts to increase sustainability at Fort George. We understand that this is a constantly evolving process. Sustainability is not about the world today; it is about how we leave it for tomorrow. This means we must invariably be looking for ways to improve with regards to the environment, the economy, and the community.

Our Sustainability Report is based on the 2017 calendar year. It summarizes our baseline metrics for operations and celebrates achievements over the year. Please feel free to reach out with any questions at sustainability@fortgeorgebrewery.com

PEOPLE

At Fort George we focus on our people. We are committed to creating and maintaining a workplace in which all employees have an opportunity to participate and contribute to the success of the organization. We celebrate our employees for their skills, experience, and unique perspectives.

BENEFITS & INCENTIVES

In 2017, every employee earned meal and beverage credits for every hour worked. All employees qualify for beer and merchandise discounts, are eligible for professional development opportunities, enjoy standing invitations to events and special releases, and benefit from paid sick time. In addition, all full-time employees are eligible for health insurance, paid vacation, an annual keg of Fort George beer, enrollment in the company retirement plan, and our employee bike program.

In 2016, Fort George implemented an employee bike program. That first year 33 employees took advantage of the opportunity to receive a Kona bicycle in exchange for a commitment to ride it to work at least 40 times over the following year. In 2017, 28 employees participated in this program. The goal is to promote a healthy and happy work environment, open up downtown parking spaces, and reduce our carbon footprint. The bike program is open to any employee who has averaged at least 35 hours per week in the previous year.

ENVIRONMENT

SUSTAINABLE PURCHASING

We make buying local a priority. We strive to purchase ingredients grown without harmful pesticides, herbicides, or hormones whenever feasible. One way we minimize our carbon footprint is by limiting emissions associated with transportation. But it’s more than just that – the Pacific Northwest inspires some amazing ingredients and we want to keep them close to home.

We have always sourced the vast majority of our grain and hops from the Pacific Northwest. Our beer is truly a local product. We distribute our beer only in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, further reducing transportation emissions.

Remaining local is better for the Northwest and better for the beer.

At the public house, our organic salad greens, beef, and pork are all Oregon grown and raised. From guest beers and wines all the way down to condiments, we source regionally to celebrate the availability of wonderful local ingredients.

We also entered a seasonal partnership with Blackberry Bog Farm to grow us the freshest chicken available. Chickens come to us from 20 miles away on the same day they are butchered. They are free range, hormone and chemical free chickens from day one, but most importantly they are delicious. We purchase potatoes from Organically Grown and use non-GMO oil in our fryers. We work with local foragers for mushrooms or sea beans or other hyper-local ingredients in specialty dishes.

COMMUNITY

BENEFIT NIGHTS

Fort George has designated the last Tuesday of every month Benefit Night at the public house. These events rallied nonprofits, the brewery, and the community, helping to raise over $133,000 in cash donations for local charities in 2017. Fort George contributed an additional $35,000 in goods and services last year, all helping local and regional nonprofits raise money at their fundraisers. Our goal is to provide support for organizations with a focus on education, human services, arts & culture, and the environment. If you know a local organization that would be a good fit, please direct them to our Benefit Night page.

THURSDAY NIGHT LECTURE SERIES

From October through May, Fort George hosts a free community education series in the Lovell Showroom. The Thursday Talks feature presentations from a rotating group of local organizations including Clatsop Community College, Clatsop County Historical Society, The North Coast Watershed Council, Lewis and Clark National Historic Park, the Brewshed Alliance, and the Philosofarian talks on Wit & Wisdom.

SUSTAINABILITY COALITION

In 2017 we also started reaching out to other businesses, our local government, and community members about working together to advance sustainability initiatives throughout Astoria and Warrenton. Our current focus is on solid waste and recycling issues. Please reach out if you are interested in participating.

OREGON BREWSHED ALLIANCE

We are proud to have signed on as a charter member supporting the Oregon Brewshed Alliance. From the inception in April of 2015, their mission has been to protect watersheds throughout the State of Oregon. Fort George has participated in the Brewshed Brewfest since 2016 and we plan to continue our partnership in the years to come.

Benefit Night Application

If you’d like your organization to be considered for a benefit night, complete this benefit application and submit it for review.

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Donation Request Form

If you’d like to request a donation from Fort George, complete this form and submit it for review.

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