TN State Parks’ signature beer raises over $7,000 to support conservancy

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) – Tennessee State Parks and Tennessee Brew Works have raised over $7,000 for the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy in the first year of the State Park Blonde Ale partnership.

“We’re grateful to Tennessee Brew Works, its distributors and fans of the State Park Blonde Ale for their support of our state parks system,” said Brock Hill, deputy commissioner of the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. “Tennessee is one of only seven state park systems in America that does not charge an entrance fee. Partnerships like this help make that possible.”

Tennessee Brew Works has dedicated 50 cents to the Tennessee State Parks Conservancy for every case of State Park Blonde Ale sold. Funds also come from pledges by participating distributors including: DET Distributing in Nashville and Jackson; Eagle Distributing in Knoxville; AS Barboro Distributing in Memphis; Ajax Distributing in Clarksville; and L&H Distributing in Tullahoma. An effort is underway to increase the number of participating Tennessee distributors in 2019.

“The success of the State Park Blonde Ale requires the dedication of so many different organizations,” said Christian Spears, founder and president of Tennessee Brew Works. “We’d like to thank the Tennessee Wholesalers for their continuing support and generous donation pledges. Special thanks go to Deputy Commissioner Hill and his team at Tennessee State Parks for their wonderful partnership and a successful first year. It is just the beginning. The potential of this partnership is limitless.”

The Tennessee State Parks Conservancy will use the funds to support the preservation and protection of natural resources within Tennessee’s 56 state parks system.

The signature State Park Blonde Ale label features Tennessee State Parks’ Randy Hedgepath, who’s been the state naturalist for more than 30 years.

The beer is sold with the support of many major retailers, restaurants and bars throughout Tennessee including Kroger, Food City, Twice Daily’s, Mapco, the Nashville International Airport and famous Honky Tonks such as Tootsies Orchid Lounge, Rippy’s, Bar & Grill, Honky Tonk Central and Nudie’s Honky Tonk in Downtown Nashville.