5 minute read
Brewing with Purpose: The Story of Save the Sound Light Lager
Raising glasses for Long Island Sound conservation
Ever since Peggy and Ed Crowley, Sr. founded Stony Creek Brewery in 2010, the brewery has garnered a well-deserved reputation for its refreshing craft beer. However, what truly sets them apart is their deep-rooted connection to Long Island Sound.
As any beer aficionado knows, water is the lifeblood of brewing. Stony Creek Brewery’s passion for clean water is not limited to beer production. “We are situated on the banks of the Branford River, which flows into the Sound saying that the health of the Sound is important to us is an understatement,” explains President Ed Crowley, Jr. “We are very proud that the majority of our neighbors love the water as much as we do.” In fact, the brewery and taproom were built on a brownfield site that had lain unused and polluted for four decades. The Crowley family’s remediation efforts improved nearby water quality, transformed the land, and launched their brewing legacy.
In 2021, the brewery’s Ed Crowley, Sr., reached out to a neighbor serving on Save the Sound’s board of directors, offering support through his team’s expertise in brewing. “Both organizations love the outdoors and care deeply about the Long Island Sound shoreline. It was an easy match from the beginning,” says Ed Crowley, Jr.
This collaboration birthed the Save the Sound Light Lager, a Helles lager crafted with floor-malted German malts and balanced with a touch of earthy Tettnanger hops. It is a bright, crisp beer, making it the perfect accompaniment for warm summer days spent by the water. The brewery donates a portion of the proceeds from every purchase to Save the Sound.
Since the beer’s launch in May 2022, it has raised more than $10,000 to protect and preserve Long Island Sound’s water quality. Distribution has now expanded across every New England state, plus New York, so it’s easy to give this refreshing beverage a (responsible) try. As glasses are raised in celebration, the partnership toasts to a promising future where more organizations collaborate to build a more sustainable environment—one sip at a time. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to Stony Creek Brewery for their support!
