June 13, 2024. Hood River, OR — Ferment Brewing and Oregon Wildlife Foundation have teamed up to honor the legacy of Herman The Sturgeon with a special IPA called High Five, Herman! The beer release in Hood River on June 22, 2024, coincides with Herman’s birthday celebration down the highway in Cascade Locks at the Sturgeon Interpretive and Viewing Center at the Bonneville Fish Hatchery.
Herman the Sturgeon is a true celebrity of the aquatic world, estimated to be over 80 years old, weighing over 500 pounds, and measuring more than 10 feet in length. Herman resides at the Sturgeon Interpretive and Viewing Center, and is one of Oregon’s top visitor attractions. The Pacific Northwest is home to two species of sturgeon — white sturgeon and green sturgeon, which face numerous challenges, particularly habitat loss and declining water quality. The Oregon Wildlife Foundation’s efforts to protect and conserve wildlife species, including sturgeon, are crucial for maintaining the balance of both aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and preserving the biodiversity that makes Oregon a special place.
High Five, Herman! Was brewed using regional, environmentally responsible ingredients from mission-driven suppliers. Mainstem Malt, a company that works directly with farmers in the Columbia River Basin to supply Salmon-Safe grains, provides the malt for this beer. The hops, sourced from Crosby Hops in Woodburn, are also Salmon-Safe, meaning they are grown using watershed-friendly and climate resilient stewardship practices to protect water quality and wildlife habitats.
“We are thrilled to collaborate with the Oregon Wildlife Foundation to honor the legacy of Herman the Sturgeon through this special IPA,” says Jenn Peterson, Director of Operations at Ferment Brewing. “By using regional, mission-driven ingredients, we hope to not only create a delicious beer that protects the very rivers in which sturgeon live, but also raise awareness for the important conservation efforts of the Oregon Wildlife Foundation.”
Celebrate Herman’s birthday with fun, family friendly festivities at the Sturgeon Interpretive and Viewing Center in Cascade Locks on June 22, from 10am – 1pm. Then enjoy lunch and a pint of High Five, Herman! at Ferment in Hood River afterwards. Donations to support upgrades at The Sturgeon Center can be made at OWF’s Givelively site here.
###
About Ferment Brewing
Ferment Brewing Co. opened in 2018 as a 20-barrel brewery and tasting room overlooking the Columbia River in Hood River, Oregon. Born out of an appreciation for the art of fermentation, the company prides itself in providing a modern brewery and tasting room experience that fuses traditional farmhouse techniques with a forward-thinking scientific approach. Ferment offers a unique family of beers and kombucha that tap the wild terrain of the Columbia River Gorge for inspiration. For more information, visit https://www.fermentbrewing.com/
Oregon Wildlife Foundation
Oregon Wildlife Foundation is an apolitical operating charitable foundation dedicated to
increasing private and public funding support for wildlife conservation projects in Oregon. Since 1981, OWF has directed tens of millions of dollars in private and public support to a broad range of projects throughout Oregon. For more information visit www.myowf.org.
