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This label will be coming to a liquor store near you next month

And the benefit brew winner is: Ancient Forest Alliance

Oct 4 2011/in News Coverage

The Ancient Forest Alliance has tapped a keg worth $9,000 after the environmental movement was named the winner of Phillips Brewing Company’s annual benefit brew competition.

The alliance, a two yearold Victoria-based non-profit organization that works to protect old-growth forest in the province, was the clear winner of the competition that over a two-week period had the public vote for their charity of choice online at www.phillipsbeer.com.

“They took an early lead and it was interesting to watch it grow from day to day,” said Phillips owner Matt Phillips. “They were very organized.”

More than 9,100 people voted in the online contest that will see the winner reap all of the proceeds from the sales of a batch of specially brewed beer – in this case Ancient Brown Ale.

Phillips said the contest, now in its third year, has meant a cash boost of anywhere between $7,000 and $9,000 for local charities.

“It all depends on how much beer we can squeeze out of this [batch],” said Phillips. “They are doing great work but I understand they have a really small operating budget so this is very significant help for them which makes it even better for us.”

Last year, the Alliance’s operating budget was $60,000. “We are grateful for the great amount of support we’ve received from the small business community of Victoria and Vancouver Island. Phillips Beer’s Benefit Brew will be a major infusion of support that will help us build a stellar ancient forest campaign this fall,” said Ken Wu, Alliance co-founder.

Phillips started brewing the beer Monday and labels have been sent to the printers. Phillips hopes to see a final product ready by the end of this month and in stores by mid-November.

Ancient Forest Alliance wins Benefit Brew competition of Phillips Beer

Oct 1 2011/in Media Release

For Immediate Release
October 1, 2011

Ancient Forest Alliance wins “Benefit Brew” competition of Phillips Beer

The Ancient Forest Alliance is the winner of an online voting competition to become the recipient of a new benefit microbrew beer made by local Victoria company, Phillips Beer. “Ancient Brown Ale” will be the new microbrew beer to be released next month into select private liquor stores, with full sales proceeds going to the Ancient Forest Alliance.

“We’re very pleased to win the Benefit Brew competition. $10,000 is huge for us, equivalent to about 25% of our funding this year. We’re a new organization with very limited funds, but we’ve been working extremely hard to save ancient forests – and we promise proceeds from the Benefit Brew will go far with us,” stated TJ Watt, Ancient Forest Alliance campaigner. “I’m also sure that among the Ancient Forest Alliance’s beer drinking supporters there are a lot of Phillips Beer fans, which is a local company that is renowned for its tastiness and quality.”

The Benefit Brew competition was narrowed down to 10 applicant charities and non-profit organizations on September 9, followed by a two-week online vote on Phillips Beer’s website which ended on September 23. It’s expected the sales proceeds will total up to $10,000 for the Ancient Forest Alliance.

The Ancient Forest Alliance is a Victoria-based, registered charitable environmental organization founded in 2010, working to protect BC’s endangered old-growth forests and forestry jobs. The organization organizes hikes, slideshows, rallies, and public education campaigns, calling on the BC government to protect BC’s endangered old-growth forests and ensure sustainable second-growth forestry. The organization’s campaign to protect the Avatar Grove near the town of Port Renfrew has had a particularly high profile with the public and in the media. See the organization’s spectacular photo and video gallery here.

Phillips Beer was founded by Victoria brewer, Matthew Phillips, over a decade ago. From the company’s humble beginnings, originally financed on Phillip’s multiple credit cards with deliveries made from his 1985 Subaru station wagon, Phillips Beer has become recognized as one of the foremost brewing companies in Canada, winning numerous provincial and national awards for their diverse, quality microbrews.

“The Ancient Forest Alliance is grateful for the great amount of support we’ve received from the small business community of Victoria and Vancouver Island. Phillips Beer’s Benefit Brew will be a major infusion of support that will help us build a stellar ancient forest campaign this fall,” stated Ken Wu, co-founder of the Ancient Forest Alliance. “Not only will the funds be extremely helpful, but the beautiful and informative labels on the bottles themselves will help to raise awareness about the need to protect old-growth forests! We want to thank thousands of our supporters for voting for us and Phillips Beer for supporting the non-profit and charitable community of BC.”

Avatar Grove closer to being protected

Sep 28 2011/in News Coverage

Like the main character Jake Sully in 2009’s blockbuster movie Avatar, Ken Wu, founder of the Ancient Forest Alliance, feels drawn to protect a primeval wilderness. In Wu’s case, it’s Avatar Grove in Port Renfrew — which is now one step closer to protection.

The Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations has drafted a proposal for an amendment that would add 49 hectares in the Avatar Grove area as an old growth management area (OGMA), and an additional 10.4 hectares in nearby Axe Creek, making them both off-limits to logging.

“Certainly it’s an excellent step forward,” said Wu. “(But) we would like to see additional legislation for a provincial conservancy or park which would be more permanent protection.”

OGMAs fall under regulatory protection meaning it could potentially be modified or removed by the government without a vote. Parks and conservancies provide more permanent protection because they are created —and can only be eliminated —through a majority MLA vote, said Wu. Most parks also get designations on highway maps.

“It’s sort of like wearing a bear costume while you forage alongside grizzly bears. You’re never sure how long the protection’s going to last.”

The Ancient Forest Alliance has been pushing for government action since the organization formed in January 2010. Their goal is for B.C. to implement an old growth strategy that will inventory and protect all old growth forests and ensure sustainable second growth forestry. Prior to starting the AFA, Wu was the executive director of the Western Canada Wilderness Community in Victoria.

Wu said the town of Port Renfrew has been instrumental in helping turn Avatar Grove — named after the movie that coincidentally came out the same time the grove was discovered — into “an ancient forest campaign on steroids.” Every day now draws people locally and from all over the world to see the gigantic, gnarled trees.

Rosie Betsworth, president of the Port Renfrew Chamber of Commerce, confirmed that there has been a “big increase” in their tourism industry.

“I was up there about a month ago, there were probably 25 people or so (visiting),” said Betsworth. “It’s brought a lot of business to Port Renfrew.”

There is, however, one caveat to the proposal.

With the combined 59.4 hectares that would be added to OGMAs, 57.4 hectares of mixed old growth/second growth is also being taken out from higher-elevation “bits and pieces” within Tree Farm License 46 owned by the Teal-Jones Group, said Wu.

“We’re not in favour of any kind of land swap scenario,” he said.

“We’ve already lost 90 per cent of the ancient forest on the southern Island, none of that should get logged. The other 90 per cent is already second growth now, they can log that sustainably and leave the last of the old growth.”

The amendment is now open to public comment. Comments can be emailed to RenfrewOGMA@gov.bc.ca until Nov. 9.