In a surprising twist to Super Bowl celebrations, a new beer featuring an unusual ingredient—bear poop—will make its debut at the Super Bowl Players Tailgate on February 8 in Santa Clara, California. Created through a collaboration between Columbia Sportswear and Breakside Brewery, this limited-edition brew promises to offer a unique taste of the great outdoors, just in time for the NFL’s championship showdown.
Nature Calls: A Beer Like No Other
The beer, aptly named Nature Calls, is crafted with Bull Run River water sourced from Oregon, infused with bear droppings collected from American black bears in Montana. Alongside this unconventional element, the brew incorporates malted grains from the Pacific Northwest, along with hints of honey and huckleberry to round out its flavour profile.
“We’re not your typical brewery,” said Joe Boyle, the brand president of Columbia Sportswear. “When life hands you bear poop, we’re turning it into something to enjoy. From the inside of a bear to your mouth—now that’s a story worth telling!” Such a bold statement sets the tone for a product aimed at adventurers and beer aficionados alike.
Quality Assurance
Scott Lawrence, founder of Breakside Brewery, emphasised that despite the eccentric ingredient, Nature Calls is brewed under the same rigorous standards as any of their other offerings. “We’ve created numerous beers, but this one takes the cake for celebrating nature in such a literal sense,” he remarked. “When Columbia approached us with this idea, we initially thought it was a joke. It’s not, and now we have what could be the wildest beer in America. It’s fun, it’s crazy, and above all, it tastes fantastic.”
This beer launch coincides with the highly anticipated game between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium, making it a unique addition to the festivities surrounding the event. After its premiere at the Super Bowl, Nature Calls will also be available at selected Breakside Brewery locations across Oregon.
A History of Unconventional Brews
Interestingly, Nature Calls is not the first beer to utilise animal waste in its production. In 2021, Finnish microbrewery Ant Brew made headlines with a stout brewed using goose droppings collected from local parks in Lahti, Finland. The droppings were employed in a food-safe manner to smoke malt, creating a distinctive stout that celebrated Lahti’s designation as the European Green Capital that year. Such creative brewing methods highlight a growing trend among craft breweries to push boundaries and explore unique ingredients.
Why it Matters
The launch of Nature Calls serves as a bold reminder of the innovative spirit in the craft brewing industry. It challenges traditional norms and encourages consumers to embrace the unexpected. As the Super Bowl approaches, this beer not only adds a quirky twist to the festivities but also sparks conversation about sustainability and the adventurous use of natural resources. In an era where unique experiences are highly valued, Nature Calls is poised to capture the attention—and curiosity—of beer lovers and sports fans alike.
