Over 100 Ocean Lovers Raise a Pint for Clean Water at Peter B's Blue Beers Community Mixer

"Crafted in Monterey. Brewed for Clean Water."

Sometimes protecting the ocean looks like collecting trash on a beach. Sometimes it means testing water quality. And sometimes… It begins with sharing a beer among friends.

Last Thursday evening, July 16th, 2026, over 100 community members gathered at Peter B's Brewpub inside the Portola Hotel & Spa for one of the Monterey Chapter's largest Blue Beers Community Mixers to date. Volunteers, local businesses, ocean advocates, longtime supporters, and first-time guests came together with one shared purpose, protecting the blue waters that define Monterey Bay.

The evening was filled with conversations, laughter, live music, incredible raffle prizes, and the debut of something brand new:

Surfrider's Blue Water IPA

Created exclusively for the Surfrider Foundation Monterey Chapter, Blue Water IPA represents far more than a collaboration beer.

It tells the story of Monterey Bay.

Brewed by Head Brewer Cody Leano alongside apprentice brewer Crystal Castro, the hazy IPA was thoughtfully crafted to celebrate clean water, local community, and coastal stewardship. Every pint poured during the evening helped support the Monterey Chapter's ongoing work protecting our beaches, waves, and coastline.

More importantly, the beer became a conversation starter.

Every pour opened the door to conversations about beach cleanups, water quality, volunteer opportunities, Ocean Friendly Restaurants, and the growing Blue Water Task Force, Surfrider Monterey's volunteer-led water quality monitoring program.

"Blue Water Monterey is the story of our community. It's the volunteer picking up litter before it reaches the ocean. It's the student testing water quality through the Blue Water Task Force. It's a local business becoming an Ocean Friendly Restaurant. It's neighbors gathering at Blue Beers to support our mission. Every action is different, but together they tell one story: a community united in protecting the blue water that defines Monterey Bay." — Harry Parker, Blue Water Task Force Program Director

photo - copy - publish: Harry Parker

A Community Partnership

This event would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of our partners.

A heartfelt thank you goes to Peter B's Brewpub and the Portola Hotel & Spa, proud participants in Surfrider's Ocean Friendly Restaurants program.

Their commitment extended far beyond opening their doors.

From creating a custom collaboration beer to donating raffle prizes, hosting the event, and contributing a portion of food and beverage sales back to the chapter, they demonstrated what community partnership truly looks like.

When local businesses invest in local conservation, everyone benefits.

“Monterey Bay is one of the most beautiful and unique coastlines in the world, and it's something I'm fortunate to experience every day. Protecting the bay means preserving it for future generations and ensuring that people can continue to enjoy its natural beauty and all that it provides for years to come”. - Head Brewer Cody Leano Peter B's

Celebrating Community

One of the greatest strengths of Blue Beers Mixer is the people it brings together.

Throughout the evening, supporters explored Surfrider merchandise, purchased raffle tickets, learned about upcoming volunteer opportunities, and connected with fellow Friends of the Ocean from across Monterey County.

Among those joining the celebration were members of the Paragliding Dune Gooneys, Monterey Bay's paragliding community affectionately known as the "Dune Stewards of the Sky." Flying the coastal dunes between Sand City and Marina, these pilots spend countless hours above the shoreline and have become passionate advocates for keeping our beaches and ocean clean.

It was wonderful to see our coastal communities continue finding new ways to support one another.

photo - copy - publish: Harry Parker

Incredible Community Support

The evening featured a fantastic lineup of raffle prizes thanks to the generosity of local businesses and partners.

A special thank you goes to Mando Surfboards for donating another beautiful handcrafted surfboard that generated tremendous excitement throughout the evening. This one large raffle prize carries big weight. As a premiere shaper and community surf hook, Mando provides an attractive custom bay oriented prize that attracts. Thank you.

We also appreciate KRML Radio for kicking off the event with another engaging Pub Talk, helping connect our community through thoughtful conversation before the festivities began. The voice of Monterey and Caramel, ca.

These partnerships are what make local conservation possible.

Thank You, Christen

Behind every successful community event is someone quietly making sure everything comes together.

A very special thank you goes to Christen Jones, whose dedication and organization continue to make the Monterey Chapter's Blue Beers program one of our strongest community-building traditions.

Month after month, Christen creates welcoming spaces where volunteers, businesses, supporters, and first-time guests can connect around a shared love for Monterey Bay. The success of this evening reflects the countless hours she invests behind the scenes.

Thank you, Christen.

Looking Ahead

As we reflected on the evening, one idea became increasingly clear. This wasn't simply another fundraiser. It represented something larger.

Whether you're enjoying a locally brewed Blue Water IPA, dining at an Ocean Friendly Restaurant, volunteering at a beach cleanup, collecting water samples through the Blue Water Task Force, or speaking up for our coast, every action contributes to the same purpose:

Protecting the Blue Water that defines Monterey Bay.

That simple idea is beginning to unite many of the Monterey Chapter's programs under one shared story.

• Community.
• Conservation.
• Clean Water.

Thank You, Monterey

To everyone who attended, purchased raffle tickets, enjoyed a Blue Water IPA, donated, volunteered, or simply spent an evening supporting our coast, Thank you.

Your participation helps fund beach cleanups, expand the Blue Water Task Force, strengthen community outreach, support coastal advocacy, and inspire the next generation of ocean stewards.

Together, we're proving that protecting Monterey Bay isn't the work of one organization.

It's the work of an entire community. And sometimes... It starts with raising a pint for clean water.

Surfrider Foundation – Monterey Chapter

Blue Water Monterey

Protecting the Blue Water That Defines Monterey Bay.