Just like the recent rainstorms, a group of local bars and restaurants are looking to provide some relief to the four-legged victims of the historic Australian bushfires by partnering with WIRES, a nonprofit in Australia that is working to save, protect and rehabilitate animals injured in the fires. And there’s perhaps no beer more fitting to lead the charge than Thin Man Brewery’s appropriately titled Trial By Wombat New England IPA, a beer named for, and inspired by, the mercurial marsupials native to the Land Down Under.

Beginning today through January 31, $1 from every pint of Trial by Wombat sold will go directly toward the WIRES fundraising campaign. To contribute, all guests need to do is order the beer, and a donation will be made. Restaurants including Allen Burger Venture, Brennan’s, Coles, Colter Bay, Moor Pat and Thin Man Transit will all donate a portion of sales to the cause. The Elmwood and Chandler Thin Man locations will not be participating in the fundraiser.

“The group wanted to do something to help support these devastating fires in Australia, and with a beer that is aptly named after one of the animals affected by this tragedy, we felt it fitting to host a fundraiser and do whatever we can to help,” said Mike Shatzel, owner/partner of the participating restaurants.

Trial by Wombat is brewed with another Australian native, the Galaxy hop, which are also being threatened by the fires, as well as Simcoe and Citra hops and malted oats.

“Trial by Wombat is a New England IPA featuring Galaxy hops from Australia,” Thin Man Head Brewer Rudy Watkins says. “There also some Simcoe and Citra hops with 30% malted oats, a ton of pilsner malts and some other fun stuff. It’s insanely dry-hopped as well for big peachy, pineapple-y and orange-y juicy goodness.”

And if you’ve never had the beer, it’s the very definition of soft, complete with a well-rounded finish and flavors of juicy white peach, pineapple, papaya and tangerine and big citrus aromas.

If you’re wondering just how worthy a cause this truly is, estimates from ecologists at the University of Sydney state that over 800 million animals have already been affected since September. And despite the much needed rain that has fallen, CNN reports that 82 fires are still burning across the country, including 30 that are yet to be contained. Additionally, 28 people have died as a result of the devastating blazes, more than 3,000 homes have been destroyed and nearly 10 million acres of land has been ravaged.

“The situation for wildlife is devastating and it will be months after the fires before the full implications on wild populations can be understood,” WIRES says. “WIRES is rescuing and caring for as many sick, injured and orphaned native animals as possible. The scale of the current emergencies is unprecedented and the impacts will be felt long-term by surviving wildlife and volunteers working hard to assist them. WIRES is a wildlife charity that relies on community support to operate our rescue and care services for wildlife 365 days a year and we are extremely grateful for your support at this difficult time.”

If you would like to give more to help Australian wildlife in need, please visit WIRES to donate directly at https://www.wires.org.au/blog/emergency-donations-to-help-wildlife.

Brian Campbell is a co-founder/Brand Manager of the BNBA’s enthusiast arm, Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at buffalobeerleague@aol.com, on Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague) and www.buffalobeerleague.com.

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