Posted on 06/10/2015 7:20:57 PM PDT by GSWarrior
Businesses nix New Belgium in controversy over coal mine
Several Craig-area businesses cut off New Belgium Brewery’s products after learning the craft beer maker is listed as a supporter of the environmental group that filed suit challenging a Moffat County coal mine.
“We no longer carry New Belgium products because of what they stand for,” said Danny Griffith, owner of J.S. Snacks, a Craig restaurant and bar. “We’re not carrying them because of what we stand for. You take the coal out of Craig and you’ve got nothing.”
Fort Collins-based New Belgium Brewing was “never aware” of the actions WildEarth Guardians was taking on the Colowyo coal mine, a company spokesman said, noting the brewery supported the environmental organization’s work on healthy Colorado watersheds.
WildEarth Guardians alleged in a suit that a federal agency failed to take into account the effects of the Colowyo mine on the global climate. A federal agency has until Sept. 5 to reconsider the mine’s permit, prompting fears the mine will be closed.
Griffith ordered New Belgium products removed from his shelves when a customer told him on Friday that New Belgium is a supporter of WildEarth Guardians, Griffith said. He also had the New Belgium signs pulled from his business.
Lori Gillam of Stockmen’s Liquor, also in Craig, went one better and pulled several Colorado craft beers off her shelves when she saw they were listed as supporters of WildEarth Guardians.
Taking New Belgium beer off her shelf comes at no small price, Gillam said.
“I go through 40 cases of New Belgium a month and this is a very tiny store,” Gillam said.
Her customer swore off the brand, as well, Gillam said.
“We stand strong and we support each other and our town,” Gillam said.
“I’m in the process of getting it off the shelf right now,” said Ryan Duran of Eastside Liquors. “WildEarth Guardians is going after, basically, our town.” A spokesman for the environmental group said the anger is misdirected.
“I get it, they’re frustrated,” said Jeremy Nichols of WildEarth Guardians. “It’s the Interior Department that really dropped the ball” when it issued the mine permit. “We’re not trying to shut down the mine right away, we’re trying to get the Interior Department to do its job.”
New Belgium Brewing was listed among supporters on the WildEarth Guardians website.
The New Belgium boycott has had a backlash in some cases, prompting “some to double down in support of us,” Nichols said.
The U.S. Office of Surface Mining today is to conduct a public meeting in Craig as it tries to meet a September deadline to consider the Colowyo mine’s permit.
Yep. New Belgian is the Celestial Seasonings of beer. I see the libs have even taken over that cowtown of Ft. Collins.
Leftists don’t like actual working people. Just the theoretical ones.
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