If A Tree Falls In A Forest, Does Anybody Hear?

The answer is Yes. Kelowna-based Tree Brewing heard the trees falling all around them during this summer’s wildfires in British Columbia’s Okanagan region, and has created a special edition Black Tree Dark Ale to help restore the forest. Through a recently announced partnership with the Tree Canada Foundation and the B.C. Fire ReLeaf program, one tree will be planted for every Black Tree sold.

The B.C. Fire ReLeaf initiative will help replace urban and rural forests throughout the province that were destroyed during the wildfires over the summer. Communities such as West Kelowna, Lillooet, Sorrento, Clinton and Kamloops were among many locations hit hard by the fires, which have destroyed a total area of 210,612 hectares so far this year. Almost 3,000 fires have been discovered by the BC Forest Service in the province since April 2009.

“Tree Brewing makes beer with character, but there has never been one brew that hits closer to home for this company and our supporters than Black Tree Dark Ale,” said Tod Melnyk, President, Tree Brewing. “I live in an area that was ravished by the fires in 2003, and the opportunity for us to be able to restore some of this community is something that we just knew we had to support.”

Black Tree Dark Ale is a specialty blend of a classic pale ale and a rich porter, and will be sold in 650mL bottles throughout British Columbia and Alberta.

Tree is also looking to its partners, competitors and businesses across Western Canada to get on board and match their efforts. “As an active member of the Okanagan community, the support only begins with Tree Brewing,” continues Melnyk. “We hope that our initiative will encourage others to do their part by either matching our donations, or even creating a program of their own.”
At an announcement in September in West Kelowna, Tree Canada announced its initial BC Fire ReLeaf program partners including Tree Brewing, TELUS, FedEx Express Canada, and BC Landscape & Nursery.

Through the BC Fire ReLeaf program, Tree Canada is distributing coupons to B.C. homeowners who lost trees to the fires so they can purchase new ones at reduced prices for their properties. Municipalities will also be able to apply for funds to help replant their parks and forests. Affected homeowners and municipalities can apply for assistance at www.treecanada.ca

About Tree Canada
Tree Canada is a not-for-profit charitable organization established to encourage Canadians to plant and care for trees in urban and rural environments. A winner of the Canadian Environmental Award (2007), Tree Canada engages Canadian companies, government agencies and individuals to support the planting of trees, the greening of schoolyards, and other efforts to sensitize Canadians to the benefits of planting and maintaining trees. To date, more than 76 million trees have been planted, more than 450 schoolyards have been greened, and Tree Canada has organized 8 national urban forest conferences. More information about Tree Canada is available at www.treecanada.ca.

About Tree Brewing Company
Tree Brewing Company takes craft brewing seriously. Located in beautiful Kelowna, British Columbia, Tree brews in small batches using only water, malt, hops and yeast to produce the highest quality, all natural, unpasteurized beer. The Tree family of Craft beers include Hophead India Pale Ale, Thirsty Beaver Amber Ale, Cutthroat English Pale Ale, Kelowna Pilsner and Spy Porter. Special releases also make brief appearances depending on the inspirations of Brewmaster Stefan Buhl. A company focused on quality, excellence and creating great tasting beer, Tree Brewing makes beer with character. For more information please visit www.treebeer.com.