While the Los Angeles River won't flow freely with beer, it very well could flow freely because of beer. That's because Golden Road Brewery, a local Los Angeles craft brewery, has partnered with the LA River Revitalization Corps for its newest brew.

Golden Road named their newest seasonal ale the 2020 IPA, in reference to Greenway 2020, a movement spearheaded by the LA River Revitalization Corps with the goal of creating a 51 mile greenway that spans the entire length of the Los Angeles River.

The LA River was channelized in 1935 after massive floods, and since then it has been more famous for movies than its natural features. But the last few years have seen momentum moving towards returning the river to its natural state, turning what was once an eyesore into a place of recreation.

On Golden Road's website, the 2020 IPA is described as celebrating "the Greenway 2020 Project, which will connect 51 miles of the LA River — transforming it from a neglected, concrete riverbed to a connected public green space by the year 2020."

After almost a century of disregard and misuse, the LA River looks set for a strong comeback. Last year, a 2.5 mile section of the river in Elysian Valley was opened for kayaking, an experience that would have seemed unfathomable only a few years earlier. And the Greenway 2020 project is far from nascent, as it has secured funding for a new bridge and bike path extension along the river.

The LA River Revitalization Corps' goals are undoubtedly lofty, as their website proclaims, "the LA River can be the single greatest transformation of Los Angeles in the 21st century." The website also calls for further community and commercial partnership, such as their relationship with Golden Road.

This isn't the first time that Golden Road has partnered with a local non-profit to brew beer with a purpose. Last March, Golden Road debuted their Heal the Bay IPA. The brewery donated a portion of all proceeds from that beer to Heal the Bay, an environmental non-profit dedicated to protecting the Santa Monica Bay.

Brewing with a conscience appears to be Golden Road's mantra. "We believe in great beer," says their website, "which is an extension of our commitment to family, sustainability, good food, and the arts."

--Image by iStockphoto/MattGush

Callum Beals is an editorial intern at Sierra. he recently graduated from UC Santa Cruz where he studied history and literature. He enjoys hiking, camping, and waking up at ungodly hours to watch soccer games.

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