Talking Cedar Brewery, owned and operated by the Chehalis Tribe in Rochester, WA, today announces the release of MMIW Tribal Pale Ale (TPA), a limited-edition beer (6.5% ABV; $12.99 SRP) created to raise awareness for the crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW). Packaged in a 4-pack of 16-ounce cans marked “Brewed for Justice, Brewed for Our Sisters,” the launch channels Talking Cedar’s craft and community roots into direct support for one of the most overlooked human rights issues in North America. A portion of proceeds from every can sold will support the Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI), selected by the brewery for its critical research, advocacy, and support for families affected by the MMIW crisis.
According to The Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Indigenous women experience violence at rates up to 10 times higher than the national average. The U.S. homicide clearance rate stands at between 50 to 60 percent, but significantly less cases involving Indigenous women are resolved.
“More people should know about this crisis, and more people should be upset by it,” says Jackie Dodd-Mallory, Director of Marketing at Talking Cedar. “Beer is our craft. It’s what we make, it’s how we connect with people, and in this case, it gives us a way to bring this issue in front of an audience that may not otherwise hear about it. If we can use what we do to get more people paying attention, asking questions, and caring about what’s happening to Indigenous women, then that matters.”
Each can of MMIW Tribal Pale Ale features original artwork by Ryan Burnett, a Chehalis Tribe member and interdisciplinary artist recognized at the Washington State History Museum and by the Washington State In the Spirit competition. His hand-and-face design reflects the red hand symbol widely recognized as a marker of the MMIW movement.
Crafted at Talking Cedar’s Rochester, WA, facility, MMIW Tribal Pale Ale is hoppy and bright, with notes of pine and citrus. Made with water sourced from the Chehalis Tribe’s aquifer, the beer reflects the brewery’s broader focus on hop-forward, Pacific Northwest-style brewing, tying every pint back to the land it comes from.
“Tribal Pale Ale is defined by a connection to place as much as flavor,” says Ryan Myhre, Director of Brewing and Distilling Operations. “We built this beer around the bright pine and citrus character that people expect from a PNW pale ale, but what truly makes it Tribal is its connection to tribal lands, tribal water, and the stories we have an opportunity to tell through it. For us, creating this style was a way to pair great brewing with a greater cause.”
MMIW Tribal Pale Ale is a limited-edition release, currently available in Washington State, Oregon, and Idaho. For information about Talking Cedar, please visit www.talkingcedar.com and follow on Instagram @talking.cedar.
