Undammed: Mad River Brewing Company Announces Launch of Seltzer Line, a Portion of the Sales Will Fund Klamath River Restoration

Mad River Brewing CompanyPress release from Mad River Brewing Company:

Portion of Undammed Seltzer sales will fund Klamath River restoration

Today, the Mad River Brewing Company announced the launch of Undammed, a bold new line of seltzers made from the best ingredients on the planet. The small batch-brewed seltzers are an intensely palate-pleasing rebuttal to the mass-produced version of this bubbling beverage.

The Undammed series starts with a distinctly delicious cucumber imbued hard seltzer that features strong hints of mint and ginger joined by a faint flash of honey. From first sip to last, the hand-crafted Natural Cucumber Seltzer presents a flavor-forward taste profile, its ambrosial aroma overwhelms the senses. Holistically brewed with Perle hops, the quality and complexity of the golden-hued offering is without comparison.

“The Undammed seltzer is like nothing else on the market,” said Linda Cooley, MRB’s Chief Executive Officer. “These authentically extraordinary seltzers are brewed with the same, extremely elevated level of care that goes into all of our award-winning ales. For the better part of the year, we played with the recipe, conducted numerous taste tests in the MRB Tap Room and altered just about every other aspect of the brewing process. When we arrived at the perfect preparation, I immediately knew we produced a very special product. This seltzer is going to disrupt the industry in the same manner as micro-brewed ales in the 1990s.”

MRB CEO Cooley, a Yurok Tribe member, selected the name Undammed to raise awareness about the campaign to remove four dams and restore the Klamath River, the lifeline of the Yurok community. The dams on the Klamath are responsible for bringing once abundant salmon runs to the brink of collapse, which has had an especially devastating impact on the Yurok people, whose traditions and culture are inextricably linked to the river. Generations of tribal citizens have suffered immensely in the face of failing fish stocks, unprecedented toxic algal blooms as well as juvenile and adult salmon die-offs, including the historic 2002 fish kill, which primarily took place on the Yurok Reservation. However, after decades of advocacy, legal battles, protests and civil disobedience, the Yurok Tribe and its allies have established a framework to remove the fish-killing dams. With support of the governors of California and Oregon, the Karuk Tribe as well as dam owner PacifiCorp, the river is slated to be set free in 2023, when the largest fish restoration project in US history is expected to begin.

When the dams are removed, salmon will again have access to hundreds of miles of historic spawning habitat, enhanced water quality and better overall environmental conditions. Based on the rapid, positive results witnessed shortly after dam decommissioning projects in other parts of the Pacific Northwest, salmon stocks are projected to swiftly recover. Dam removal will also substantially increase the quantity of other important fish species, such as steelhead, sturgeon and Pacific lamprey. In addition to improving fish runs, re-wilding the river will also benefit a wide variety of native wildlife species, ranging from beavers to black bears and even marine mammals.

The demolition of the dams offers several additional advantages for human populations too. It will eliminate the toxic algal blooms that make it unsafe to swim in the river. It will strengthen the fishing dependent economies in port towns from Fort Bragg, CA to Coos Bay, OR, where salmon harvests have been severely limited due to low fish quantities on the Klamath. The Yurok Tribe has also cancelled its commercial fishery in four of the last five years to protect struggling fish stocks.

While dam removal is, by a massive margin, the single most effective action that can be taken to improve fish populations, additional work is needed to repair critical habitat harmed by historic logging and mining practices. A portion of each Undammed purchase will be invested in this monumental effort to repair the river and revive salmon stocks.

“In addition to enjoying an amazing product, Undammed seltzer consumers will contribute to the recovery of the salmon runs and the restoration of justice in the Klamath Basin,” Cooley explained. “A healthy Klamath will benefit the indigenous communities on the river, North Coast residents and the entire country. The Klamath is a national treasure and the third largest salmon producer in lower 48 states.”

Every year for the past decade, the Yurok Tribe and its partners have restored multiple miles of salmon habitat in the Klamath Basin. The Yurok Fisheries Department, comprised of approximately 100 watershed restorationists and biologists, employs cutting-edge biomimicry techniques to reestablish the diversity of habitat types that existed in the Klamath watershed prior to European contact. It is incredible how fast fish and wildlife move in to these holistically constructed environments. In a few short years, salmon, other fish species as well as a broad range of birds and mammals will begin to recover on the Klamath following the removal of the dams and restoration of the watershed.

An In-depth Look at Undammed

In introducing Undammed to the world, the Mad River Brewing Company is poised to disrupt an industry that is saturated with bulk-manufactured effervescent beverages. Unlike the overly processed versions of the adult refreshment, the micro-brewed Undammed seltzers are made with highest quality, sustainably sourced ingredients, which give the lightly carbonated libation its complex, crisp taste.

“We are able to do things differently because we are a small craft brewery that is laser-focused on quality. Our tight-knit team puts their heart and soul into each and every one of our products and you can taste the difference. You can literally taste the tremendous amount of care they put into this seltzer. I only want to drink this hopped cucumber seltzer,” said CEO Cooley.

Each Undammed seltzer has an equally elaborate taste that miraculously conceals the absence of carbs and calories. MRB’s seltzers will be sold in four packs of 16-ounce cans. The fantastic flavor of the 5% ABV beverage and the size of the can are not the only attributes that set it apart.

“We are not only distinguishing our brand with the small batch, the way we brew it and the superior quality, but we are separating ourselves with the name and packaging. Instead of the typical slim plain-colored can, the Undammed seltzer is wrapped in a beautiful label reflecting the tribal ownership,” concluded Cooley.

The Yurok Tribe acquired the Mad River Brewing Company in 2019 and immediately plotted a course to bring its highly regarded products into new markets. The Undammed seltzer line is one component of an already successful effort to expand the well-established brand. The Tribe has also commissioned fine artwork to adorn MRB’s multiple award-winning ales. Late last year, the San Manuel Casino, one of the most successful gaming enterprises on the West Coast, started offering MRB’s Jamaica Red Ale.

The Mad River Brewing Company, located in Humboldt County, California has been brewing best-quality beers for more than three decades. MRB employs a time-honored approach to hand crafting the finest quality ales. The company also operates the Mad River Brewing Company Tap Room in Blue Lake, CA and has received four Gold Medals, four Silver Medals and one Bronze medal from the Great American Beer Festival, which offers the most prestigious awards in the industry. MRB has also received seven waste reduction awards for its environmentally sustainable production practices.

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17 Comments
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Bushytails
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Bushytails
3 years ago

Maybe you should spend some effort on making your food in blue lake not be literally the worst in humboldt?

Free estimates
Guest
Free estimates
3 years ago
Reply to  Bushytails

They HAD good food. The first chef they had when they started serving food was excellent. Great specials and would even bring homemade picked mushrooms and fish for the locals to try. My parents would specifically request to go there every time they were in town. After they fired that dude, it’s been a slow progression to garbage Sysco bar food. We don’t even bother anymore.

cu2morrow
Guest
cu2morrow
3 years ago
Reply to  Free estimates

he’s back, the world famous Jean Louie Hamiche is back.

Muddy Black Dodge
Guest
3 years ago
Reply to  Bushytails

Oh my god ‘Bushytails'[edit].. Go eat somewhere else. Rather than that, stay at home, don’t spread your hate for basically everything you aren’t physically/ spiritually/ doing yourself… I feel bad for anyone who comes in contact with your crap… 👎

Great job Mad River Brewing; trying to help your/our people, the rivers around us, the people of Humboldt, and the Earth… Don’t let hate mongers like Bushytails even make you folks flinch.

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
3 years ago

I take it you haven’t eaten there.

I’m not kidding… The worst restaurant food I’ve had. Order a tri-tip sandwich and it’s two pieces of white bread (the little 4″ square kind!) with a slice of deli roast beef in the middle. For $15. And they charge you extra for a side of any kind. Onion rings are paste soaked in foul-tasting oil. I don’t remember their price, but I’m tempted to say $8 for a handfull. Tiny burgers. Unpleasant atmosphere, although with covid that’s probably greatly improved.

There are many great local restaurants… but they are not one of them. You say I hate everything, but I can’t remember posting anything negative about any other local restaurant. I can certainly think of a few negative things to say about some of them, but none of them have been as bad as that place.

EDIT: Here’s some places I like or have liked, in roughly alphabetical order, if you want suggestions for better local food: Amiga’s, Annie’s, AP&D, Carmela’s, Chalet, Cheese Factory (did they ever re-open?), Cookhouse, DD, Farm Store, Hey Juan’s, Hunan in henderson that I don’t remember the full name of, Hunan Village, Journey’s End, Kebab Cafe, Kristina’s, Los Bagels, Luzmila’s, Masakis (but they might be gone), MRBB, No-brand, Surfside, Pachenga, Pho Thien Long, Pho Hoang, Porter Street, Round Table, Sammy’s, Siam Orchid, Szechuan Garden, Tandoori Bites, the ethieopian place I can’t remember the name of, the chinese buffet in giuntoli, the place in arcata that used to be crosswinds, ummm…

Those are just the ones I’ve liked. There’s plenty of places I’ve had acceptable experiences at, but not memorable. The mad river brewing company was not one of them, any of the times I’ve given them a shot.

cu2morrow
Guest
cu2morrow
3 years ago
Reply to  Bushytails

whatyado, go through the Blackbook picking random places ?

Bushytails
Guest
Bushytails
3 years ago
Reply to  cu2morrow

No, I went through yelp picking places I’ve eaten at and liked, because I know my memory is too bad to come up with a decent list without forgetting half of them.

I like stars
Guest
I like stars
3 years ago

The press release states that the dams have “had an especially devastating effect on the Yurok people”.

Has alcohol had any effect on the Yurok people historically?

Perhaps the tribe can also move into the tobacco, meth, and heroin supply businesses.

Alf
Guest
Alf
3 years ago

I don’t drink, so won’t be buying this product anyway, but if I did I wouldn’t support this line. I believe drinking to be damn stupid and removal of dams just as damn stupid if not more.

A deep state sandwich
Guest
A deep state sandwich
3 years ago
Reply to  Alf

They don’t know how to deal with sediment. .?

North west
Guest
North west
3 years ago

I do. Of course you don’t and never would 😇. Must be nice in that ivory tower. Mr Alien

A deep state sandwich
Guest
A deep state sandwich
3 years ago
Reply to  North west

Which has been the report from the Sec. Of the Interior . I’m glad you got this NW. Happy V day

Wth
Guest
Wth
3 years ago

I agree with stars the yurok tribe shouldn’t have invested in a brewery it’s an embarrassment to all the natives who struggle with alcohism. They don’t allow cannabis cultivation on the reservation but want to invest in cannabis business off the reservation it’s ridiculous hypocrisy at its finest. Politicians of any kind are corrupt and self serving thanks to the tribal leadership for making a mockery of itself time and time again.

Mike
Guest
Mike
3 years ago
Reply to  Wth

I am very far from a expert but I’m guessing the reason they don’t allow pot growing on the res is it’s under the control of the feds and its federally illegal. If they could they would exploit it to the max for profit, just like casinos.

A deep state sandwich
Guest
A deep state sandwich
3 years ago
Reply to  Wth

The struggle with cash flow seems to be a more pressing issue.

I agree that in an environment of declining health standards, extra monetary options aren’t producing a healthier option.

curlybill
Guest
curlybill
3 years ago

I might have tried it if it were a soft drink.

thetallone
Guest
thetallone
3 years ago

Good for them for doing something positive in the world. I’m not sure how popular a cucumber flavored beverage will be, however. Maybe it’s great, I don’t know.