(Portsmouth, NH) – “What if they donate the money to a charity that I don’t like?” asked several members of an online beer enthusiast community, when initial plans for The Portsmouth Brewery’s 2011 Kate the Great Russian Imperial Stout release were announced in late October. The Brewery would print and sell 10,000 scratch tickets, 900 of which would be “winners” and give the bearer the opportunity to purchase a bottle of the elixir hailed as the “#2 Beer in the world.” All proceeds would go to “charities of our choice.”
Now beer fans can decide for themselves about the merits of the charitable partners. The Portsmouth Brewery is very happy to announce that the Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire, headquartered in Exeter, NH and the Center for Wildlife in York, ME are our non-profit partners for 2011 Kate Day and will each receive the proceeds generated by the scratch ticket sales. The custom-designed tickets will be sold for $2, exclusively at Portsmouth Brewery. Each patron may purchase no more than fifteen tickets each day and can only pay with cash. Should all tickets be sold, a total of $20,000 will be split equally between the Land Trust and the Center for Wildlife; the Portsmouth Brewery is donating the cost of designing and printing the tickets.
“For the last several years, the lines that formed outside our door prior to the release of Kate the Great have gotten longer and started earlier,” said Peter Egelston, founder and co-owner of the Portsmouth Brewery. “With more and more people seeking this beer, and the limited capacity our tiny brewery, supply simply can’t meet demand – with our old system, we were doomed to disappoint a larger and larger number of people. Our goal this year was to devise a system that is fair and reduces the need for people to stand in lines for hours and hours. And the fact that we can raise a significant amount of money for local nonprofits is a terrific bonus.”
About Our Partners:
The Southeast Land Trust of New Hampshire’s mission is to conserve the significant land and natural resources of southeastern New Hampshire, including water, working farms and forests, wildlife habitat, natural areas, and community landscapes. As a regional land trust, we serve the 39 communities of southeastern New Hampshire. Established in 1980, the Land Trust has helped conserve more than 6,000 acres of land.
The Center for Wildlife is a private, non-profit organization whose mission is to rehabilitate and provide sanctuary for sick and injured wild animals, and to promote respect for wildlife and the environment. Since opening in 1986, the center has cared for over 19,000 animals, successfully releasing 9,000 back into the wild. In addition to their medical mission, the Center provides outreach and education programs to the public, promoting knowledge and appreciation of wild animals and their habitats, encouraging conservation and coexistence.
About Kate the Great:
Russian Imperial Stouts are the darkest and heartiest beers around. Originally brewed by British brewers for the Tsarist courts of Russia, these heavy beers were particularly adored by Empress Catherine the Great. Our version, named Kate the Great in tribute, was first brewed in 2005. The following year’s batch took off like a rocket, after BeerAdvocate magazine named Kate Best Beer in America and the #2 Beer in the World. Now, beer lovers from around the world and curious Portsmouth residents alike, line-up for their once-a-year chance to taste this beguiling beer. Kate herself exhibits the roasted astringency of espresso that’s rounded out by rich flavors of dark chocolate and dark fruit character from a port wood-aging process. Only 310 gallons are made each year, with half of the batch being bottled while the other half goes on draft and sells out in one day. As strong as gulag survivor, Kate is 9.5% alcohol by volume.