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A Thirst for Home Awareness

Impact Stories Article
Man brewing beer in a commercial brewing operation.

To commemorate our new name, Clearwater teams up with Imagine Nation Brewing to raise awareness and money for the Missoula Home Coalition.

Housing in Missoula is increasingly out of reach for many residents, and Clearwater hasn’t been the only organization to notice. The Missoula Home Coalition was formed when nine local organizations decided to unite to create change and advocate for their community.

When Clearwater and Imagine Nation Brewing Co. (INBC) decided to team up to create a commemorative beer, everyone agreed that the proceeds should be donated to an organization working to help Missoulians. The newly formed Missoula Home Coalition was the perfect fit.

Imagine Nation Brewing's Head Brewer explaining the brewing process to visitors.

Nation Brewing Co

Robert Rivers

Co-Owner Imagine Nation Brewing Co.

What makes this beer special is the fact people from different sectors are gathering around an issue that is really starting to affect many people in Missoula which is the cost of housing and affordable housing. When you get non-profits that come together that have cultural power, a credit union that has financial influence, and a brewery that has the ability to gather people together — when all of those different sectors can come together around a common objective — we believe that’s when magic happens.
Jack Lawson adding ingredients to Clearwater's branded beer with Imagination Brewing.

A key ingredient of the project was to bring together members of the coalition, including Clearwater staff and employees of the brewery, to engage in dialogue and learn from each other through the process. They were invited to participate in the brewing process in August and also volunteer during the canning that took place in early September.

The canning was a first for Imagine Nation. Clearwater Credit Union covered the cost of production and canning, and Imagine Nation brewed the hazy IPA on behalf of the financial institution.

Assembly line of beer cans at Imagine Nation Brewing.

Local retailers Worden’s Market, Pattee Creek Market, Orange Street Food Farm, and Good Food Store all agreed to sell this limited run of beer without markup and give every cent of the profit to the Home Coalition. Roughly 250 four-packs of 16-ounce cans were produced, and the packs were sold for $14 each.

A few kegs of the limited-edition beer were also available on tap during the Clearwater Credit Union launch party at Imagine Nation Brewing Co. on September 5, 2019.

Clearwater employees and community member celebrating the release of Imagine Nation Brewing's "Thirst for Home" Clearwater branded beer.

The coalition works to improve options for Missoula renters, development programs, resources, and legal assistance for people facing barriers to housing in our community. The coalition is comprised of the following organizations:

This story was originally published on June 22, 2020.

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