SOMERDALE, NJ — Flying Fish, New Jersey’s largest craft brewery, Flying Fish Brewing Company (900 Kennedy Boulevard, 856-504-3442), is proud to announce the beneficiaries of the $45,000 proceeds from its Forever Unloved (F. U.) Sandy hybrid wheat-pale ale: Habitat for Humanity and three shore-area chapters, Southern Ocean County, Northeast Monmouth County and Coastal; Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, the largest statewide relief organization relief organization; and Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, to rebuild shore-area habitat destroyed by the storm.
The Flying Fish team, many of them proud NJ residents, announced when they debuted F.U. Sandy in February that 100% of proceeds would be donated to New Jersey victims of 2012’s Superstorm Sandy, and they’re proud to have settled on these worthy groups, nominated via social media by Flying Fish fans, to receive $15,000 each as a result of the beer’s sell-out popularity.
“New Jersey is one tight-knit state, and our fans and friends proved that with their overwhelming response to this special beer,” says Gene Muller, Flying Fish founder and president. “From our wholesalers to the local bars and restaurants that made sure no keg went unsold to the dedicated drinkers who nominated our three exceptional beneficiaries, it’s obvious that NJ residents are committed to bringing their communities back, better than ever, after the storm.”
Flying Fish eventually selected three groups to receive the F.U. Sandy funds:
- Habitat for Humanity, a powerful charitable group that works to develop communities by building and renovating houses, providing recipients with a simple, decent and affordable place to live;
- The Hurricane Sandy New Jersey Relief Fund, a non-profit organization that raises and distributes funds to organizations that support the recovery and rebuilding efforts of New Jersey communities impacted by the storm, and aims to make a sustainable, long-term impact, focusing on programs that address the unmet needs of New Jersey communities; and
- The Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, a group that works towards a future where the state is home to greater numbers of rare species, stronger populations and enough good habitat to support them, including those damaged or destroyed during Superstorm Sandy.
For more information about any of the F.U. Sandy beneficiaries, or to donate time or funds, please visit them online at the links above.
The F.U. Sandy brew produced 86 kegs of beer, sales of which have generated $45,000 directly towards the chosen charities. The beer is still available in select locations — listed on the breweries — available now. F. U. Sandy was brewed with a 50/50 blend of Two Row Pale Malt and American White Wheat. It was hopped with experimental hop ADHA 483, donated by the American Dwarf Hop Association, which had never been used in a beer before this one. Muller and Head Brewer Casey Hughes are proud of the beer’s beautiful, tropical nose of mangoes and guavas that accentuates its soft mouthfeel and contributes to a truly one-of-a-kind ale — much like their beloved Jersey shore.
Flying Fish was the world’s first ‘virtual’ microbrewery, establishing an Internet presence as early as 1995. That presence helped to generate press interest and woo investors to the fledgling brewery, which would not open for business until late 1996. Flying Fish primarily distributes in Delaware, Eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Washington D.C. They also have limited distribution in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.
In 2012, Flying Fish moved into a new facility in Somerdale, making it the largest brewery built in the state since prohibition. The move will ultimately allow Flying Fish to quadruple production. The facility boasts many sustainability features, to brew their award-winning beer in the most environmentally friendly way possible. Flying Fish produces a range of beers year-round, along with a variety of seasonal specialties. They also produce the Exit Series, a special selection of beers highlighting the state through the various exits of the New Jersey Turnpike.
For more information about F. U. Sandy or any of Flying Fish’s beers, please visit them online at www.flyingfish.com or call (856) 504-3442.