The first brewery in the Suwannee River Basin is the top-level sponsor of the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest. When the finalists compete for the judges and music lovers at The Salty Snapper on August 24, 2019, at the top of the sponsor banner will be Georgia Beer Company. This maker of brews, such as Cypress Knee - Single Hop Mosaic, understands clean water is essential to every beer. So Georgia Beer Company, as the Aria level sponsor, supports Suwannee Riverkeeper for fishable, swimmable, drinkable water.

“When I was a reporter in Madison, Florida, I wrote about Valdosta sewage frequently,” said Georgia Beer Co. co-founder Chris Jones. “Unfortunately, that is still a story. We support Suwannee Riverkeeper to help stop that problem, and to clean up other things getting into our rivers.”

“I’m thrilled for this support of our water quality testing program by Georgia Beer Company,” said WWALS lead tester Sara Jay. “We can buy more testing materials and do more tests!”

“My grandfather used to run the Valdosta waterworks in the historic building that now houses Georgia Beer Company,” said Suwannee Riverkeeper John S. Quarterman. “It’s great that Chris and Jack know clean water is just as important now as it was back then.”

“Chris and I met at VSU,” said co-founder Jack "J. Ryce" Martin. “We began brewing beer in my garage, so we have deep roots here, where we founded the Southernmost Brewery in Georgia. We understand everything here depends on clean water, so we support WWALS.”

“Thank you, Chris and Jack, for your contribution of a thousand dollars in cash and items for the silent auction, in support of WWALS Watershed Coalition and its advocacy and outings,” said WWALS Executive Director Gretchen Quarterman. “We’re printing up your sponsor banner to hang down at the taproom.”

“We serve Georgia Beer Company’s Distress Express Stout at The Salty Snapper,” said Justin Stephens, Director of Operations, Manwell DeCoudres Restaurant Group. “We’ll have a cash bar open, and we are proud to host the Suwannee Riverkeeper Songwriting Contest for its second year.”

“Music and the arts lead the band of advocacy and awareness,” said contest committee Chair Scotti Jay. “And a beer with the music sure can help.”