"It Takes All Types" Blood Orange IPA spotlights the current need for blood donations across the PNW and country.
Seattle IPA fans rejoice - A new beer is in town, and with a mission to save lives. Local non-profit Bloodworks Northwest has partnered with Three Magnets Brewing Co., Lucky Envelope Brewing and Flatstick Pub in part of a culinary-focused community initiative to recruit 10,000 new and re-engaged blood donors by the end of June, as part of Bloodworks Northwest's Savor Life. Save A Life. campaign.
The launch of "It Takes All Types" Blood Orange IPA aims to raise awareness around the importance and impact of donating blood. “Giving blood is something that’s very simple. It does not take much time, but makes such a massive impact,” said Three Magnets co-owner Sara Reilly. “People have to remember that it is something they need to try to do on a regular basis and consistently give.”
The local community is celebrated in this beautiful and delicious IPA, the same community served by Bloodworks Northwest. Ingredients all come from Washington and Oregon, thanks to the generous donations provided by local producers who teamed up with Three Magnets Brewing Co. and Lucky Envelope Brewing. Grain came from Skagit Valley Malting of Burlington, Imperial Yeast of Oregon donated yeast, and Cascadia Canning contributed the canning and kegging.
The beer can itself has a QR code which takes you to the campaign's webpage to learn more about how to help donate blood. Currently, the campaign has brought in 4,721 new or re-engaged blood donors.
The beer was officially released to the public on Thursday, April 14 and will be available at all Flatstick Pub locations while supplies last and other Savor Life. Save A Life. participating restaurants and bottle shops in Western Washington and Western Oregon. Limited cans will also be available through Porch Drops, www.porchdrops.com, beginning April 20th.
Why Is There A Need For Blood Across The Nation?
The nation’s blood supply remains at one of its lowest levels in recent years, and the Pacific Northwest is experiencing dangerously low levels—hovering at less than one day’s supply of certain critical blood types. Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, blood donations have been down 35%, due to would-be donors avoiding public spaces, including donation centers, the spike in COVID infections and confusion over eligibility after having received a vaccination.
“We wanted to use beer for a good cause: to help tell the story of the supply chain that we are dealing with and correlate that to the supply of blood in the States right now,”
- Aaron Blonden, Brewmaster of Three Magnets Brewing Co.
Bloodworks Northwest's Savor Life. Save A Life. campaign launced earlier this year, partnering with food and drink industry leaders, like Ethan Stowell Restaurants, Flatstick Pub, and more to help engage the Seattle community. As part of the campaign, donors can be entered to win one-of-a-kind culinary prizes for donating blood, including the April prize of a market-to-table cooking tour for six, which Chef Traci Calderon will lead through Pike Place Market, followed by an interactive cooking experience in the Atrium Kitchen. The winner and their guests will also receive a Pike Place Market gift basket and a one-night stay at The State Hotel (in up to three rooms).
How Do I Schedule A Blood Donation?
For more information about Savor Life. Save a Life. or learn about upcoming events, the giveaways or scheduling a blood donation, please visit www.bloodworksnw.org/savorlife.