Maine brewer celebrates COA Allied Whale

The marine mammal rescue work of College of the Atlantic Allied Whale in support of seals, whales, and other Eastern Maine ocean creatures is buoyed by a $20,000 challenge grant from Maine Beer Company. Maine Beer has supported Allied Whale through the 1% for the Planet program since 2009 and is urging others to do the same.

In making a gift toward Allied Whale’s work with distressed seal pups, dolphins, whales, and sea turtles, Maine Beer Company (MBC) is challenging all supporters of ocean mammals to step up and do the same.

“Our commitment to the environment is a core part of Maine Beer Company’s values,” said MBC CEO Steve Mills. “Supporting the work that COA Allied Whale does to help some of our most important ocean creatures aligns with our purpose of doing good through great beer.”

College of the Atlantic Allied Whale performs key marine mammal rescue operations and whale research in Eastern Maine. Their work is supported in part by a 15-year partnership with Maine Beer Company.Individuals wishing to help COA meet MBC’s challenge grant can contribute a tax-deductible donation at coa.edu/supportalliedwhale and allocate your gift to the Marine Mammal Stranding Program.

COA Allied Whale, based in Bar Harbor, is one of just two organizations authorized by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to respond to marine mammal emergencies in Maine, servicing 2,600 of coastline from Rockland to the Canadian border. The group receives about 130 distress calls a year.

“Fulfilling NOAA’s mandate has been challenging this year as Allied Whale has recently faced federal funding cuts from NOAA that have affected our ability to respond,” said COA Steven K. Katona Chair in Marine Sciences Sean Todd, the director of Allied Whale. “The support of organizations like Maine Beer Company is vital to the work that we do.”

Lunch, one of Maine Beer Company's most popular beers, is an IPA named after a finback whale that has been spotted and cataloged by COA Allied Whale since 1982. Maine Beer, whose motto is, "Do what's right," is celebrating 15 years of supporting Allied Whale with a $20,000 challenge grant.Since 2009, Maine Beer Company has contributed over $3,000,000 to nonprofits, including over $110,000 to COA Allied Whale. One of their most popular beers, Lunch, is an India Pale Ale named after a finback whale that has been spotted and cataloged by Allied Whale since 1982. Lunch’s dorsal fin looks as though a bite has been taken out of it, adding to her distinctive character.

“We are incredibly grateful for our 15-year partnership with Maine Beer Company,” said COA President Dr. Sylvia Torti. “Since 1972, COA Allied Whale has been at the forefront of modern whale research and innovation. For the past 15 years, MBC has been right by our side, helping us fulfill our mission and doing good in the world.”

Based in Freeport, Maine, Maine Beer Company was founded in 2009 by brothers David and Daniel Kleban. They were determined to create a company purposed with doing good through great beer. Their motto, “Do what’s right,” is at the forefront of every decision they make from how they treat their employees, to the beer they brew, to their commitment to the environment.

Lunch, a finback whale that has been spotted and cataloged by COA Allied Whale since 1982, is the namesake of Maine Beer Company's popular Lunch IPA. Lunch's dorsal fin looks as though a bite has been taken out of it, adding to her distinctive character.

College of the Atlantic is the first college in the U.S. to focus on the relationship between humans and the environment. The intentionally small school of 350 students and 35 faculty enriches the liberal arts tradition through a distinctive educational philosophy—human ecology. A human-ecological perspective integrates knowledge from all academic disciplines and from personal experience to investigate—and ultimately improve—the relationships between human beings and our social, natural, built, and technological environments. The human-ecological perspective guides all aspects of education, research, activism, and interactions among the college’s students, faculty, staff, and trustees.