Rogue Ales & Spirits, the company responsible for converting so many to the craft beer cause over the past few decades, has undergone a temporary conversion of its own. Its Rogue Spirits is now producing and packaging hand sanitizer at its Newport, Oregon distillery and donating the highly sought- after liquid cleanser to local emergency response and public safety officials.
Rogue has named its new product Helping Hand and so far, its products have been received with open arms by Oregon fire departments from Newport, Toledo, Waldport, Yachats, Depoe Bay, and Lincoln City, as well as police services, county offices, local ambulance services and Life Flight. Helping Hand is made using 80% ethanol, glycerin, hydrogen peroxide and distilled water and is packaged in 375 ml, 4 oz and 16 oz bottles. It’s formulated to destroy Covid- 19 and other disease- causing viruses to promote better public health.
What Rogue Spirits is doing has been echoed by distilleries across the nation, many of which have willfully and happily switched production from adult beverages to cleaning fluids. The decision was made possible thanks to a change in guidelines at the Food and Drug Administration that took place on March 18. As long as distilleries follow the formula handed down by the World Health Organization, then they are permitted to make hand sanitizer.
Those
of us familiar with the craft beer business community and its brother/sister
distillery businesses know that these industries are poised and ready to assist
the community when the need arises. Brian Pribyl, Head Distiller at Rogue Ales
& Spirits, says the need for medical goods and sanitation supplies is
extreme, and his business was ready to chip in and offer assistance in an area
where they knew they had a distinct advantage.
“There’s a massive shortage of so many life-saving supplies right now
and we wanted to do something to help,” said Pribyl. “As a
distillery, we make alcohol every day, so a hand sanitizer was an obvious
way to help. It’s been amazing to watch the entire distilling community come
together during this crisis. We can’t make gowns, gloves or medical equipment
but we can keep a steady supply of alcohol flowing. If we can supply a hand
sanitizer to the front-line of this pandemic, even if that means one less thing
they have to worry about sourcing, we’re calling that a win.”
Jack Waibel, Rogue Ales & Spirits Vice President of Production, says the opportunity to give back to the community is one his business and its employees immediately embraced.
“What’s really great about our hand sanitizer initiative is that it came about as an employee passion project and their dream became a reality thanks to a collaborative team effort,” said Waibel. “Since day one we have been dedicated to giving back to our community and are so honored to be able to step up and help in this time of need.”
At the moment, Rogue Helping Hand Hand Sanitizer is available to first responders in the immediate vicinity of Lincoln County, Oregon. Rogue Ales & Spirits is hopeful that it can expand its distribution to the entire nation, including businesses and individual consumers. The fine folks at Rogue are ready to do what they can to help bring an end to the Covid- 19 crises and Great Beer Now applauds Rogue’s strong effort to help those in need.
For more information on Helping Hand and other things Rogue related, visit online at Rogue.com.
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