NEWPORT, OR – The Partnership for Interdisciplinary Studies of Coastal Oceans (PISCO), Oregon State University, and Rogue Ales & Spirits are pleased to announce the release of Wasted Sea Star.
Wasted Sea Star was brewed to raise awareness about Sea Star Wasting Syndrome – a pandemic killing millions of sea stars along the Pacific Coast and across the United States. This is the largest marine animal disease event in recorded history, affecting sea stars in coastal habitats and aquariums alike.
Rogue Brewmaster John Maier crafted this beer using purple corn nectar – a revolutionary new ingredient – to pay homage to a native species rapidly disappearing from the Oregon coastline. Like these sea stars, the beer has a light reddish-purple hue. Like the beer, these sea stars call Newport, OR home.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this beer will go towards the research of Sea Star Wasting Syndrome conducted by PISCO.
PISCO is a long-term monitoring and research program, led by investigators at four Universities along the U.S. West Coast: OSU, UC Santa Cruz, Stanford University, and UC Santa Barbara.
“We are extremely excited about this new partnership with Rogue to raise awareness about the importance of sea stars to healthy ocean ecosystems. Rogue’s new beer also recognizes the efforts of investigators across the country who are collaborating to understand this disease and its impacts,” said lead PISCO-OSU investigator Bruce Menge.
“This is an excellent example of an industry-academia partnership that can help educate at the same time as helping to support the necessary science,” added PISCO program coordinator Kristen Milligan.
Wasted Sea Star will be available at all Rogue locations on May 28th, and throughout the states of Oregon, Washington and California starting in June. It will be available nationwide throughout the summer.
