SAN DIEGO, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ballast Point announced the release of its new "Made in San Diego" beer – made available exclusively in San Diego County – in partnership with San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation (EDC). The Made in San Diego beer is Ballast Point’s way of giving back to the city that originally backed a humble home brewer’s dream and has supported the brewery for more than 20 years.

As part of the “give back initiative,” the local brewery has teamed up with San Diego Regional EDC to donate 50 cents for every case sold of Made in San Diego beer to the EDC Foundation Entrepreneurship Fund. The multi-year partnership will provide aspiring San Diego entrepreneurs with needed resources to launch and grow their small businesses and will raise up to $25,000 each year for the program.

 “As a brewery that has called San Diego home for over two decades, we couldn’t be more excited about this announcement,” said Marty Birkel, president of Ballast Point Brewing Company. “This community has embraced us from a small home brew supply shop to a globally distributed brewery, and we want to honor our hometown supporters while empowering other local business owners to pursue their passion – just like Ballast Point did.”

Ballast Point has been an integral part of the San Diego regional economy over the last 20 years. In 2017 alone, the brewery generated $537 million of total economic activity in the region. Quantified by EDC, the brewery is also a significant contributor to jobs. While directly employing approximately 375 people locally, Ballast Point’s presence in the region impacts roughly 1,074 jobs.

“Ballast Point is a great steward in supporting the local economy and local businesses,” said Lauree Sahba, chief operating officer at San Diego Regional EDC. “In fact, EDC found that for every direct job Ballast Point creates, another 1.9 jobs are supported elsewhere in the region.  Ballast Point embodies the life-changing spirit that EDC is promoting, so when they approached us about the Made in San Diego initiative, we knew it would be a partnership the community would embrace.”

The Made in San Diego beer launch is just the first of several activities Ballast Point has planned to thank and support the community. This fall, the brewery will host a “Made in San Diego” festival for residents that will feature local breweries, makers and entertainment for residents to enjoy. Additionally, the brewery plans to sponsor various EDC initiatives to provide networking and funding opportunities to local entrepreneurs.

A TASTE OF SAN DIEGO: MORE ON THE ‘MADE IN SAN DIEGO’ BEER

The Made in San Diego beer features the same level of innovation, quality and flavor that San Diego residents have come to know and love from Ballast Point. With packaging that pays homage to the vibrant neighborhoods of San Diego, it’s an easy-drinking Kolsch that features toasted bread aroma and flavor from Munich malt and a soft bitterness from Cascade and Mosaic hops.

The can also includes the San Diego: Life. Changing. brand mark. Developed by EDC, San Diego: Life. Changing. is a campaign designed to communicate the value proposition of the broader San Diego region.

Made in San Diego will be available on draft in San Diego County later this month with six-pack 12 oz. cans rolling out county-wide at the end of May.

For more information on Made in San Diego from Ballast Point, visit MadeInSD.com

To learn more about San Diego Regional EDC, visit sandiegobusiness.org and sandiegolifechanging.org.

About Ballast Point Brewing Company
Started in 1996 by a small group of home brewers in San Diego, Ballast Point has a 20-plus-year history of supporting the art of home brewing and developing high-quality, innovative and award-winning beer. Ballast Point has become one of the nation’s leading craft breweries by exploring new tastes and techniques to create the perfect balance of taste and aroma. At Ballast Point, a culture of quality persists from selection of raw materials to the brewing process to the finished product and beyond. From developing a proprietary yeast for our amber ale to creating a breakthrough gold medal-winning IPA, Ballast Point is dedicated to the craft of brewing beers for all to enjoy.

MEDIA CONTACT:
John Arango
Zeno Group for Ballast Point
john.arango@zenogroup.com
(312) 396-9750

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