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Cheers to Stonefly, helping the Schuylkill

A portion of sales of Saucony Brewing's IPA will go toward river restoration projects.

A big toast to beer companies that are starting to embrace water quality! After all, their products use a lot of it.

The latest is Saucony Creek Brewing Company in Kutztown, headed by X Games skateboarder and snowboarder Matt Lindenmuth. Head brewer Joe Percoco led the development of Stonefly India Pale Ale -- named for an aquatic insect that can't survive in polluted water, so it's an iconic indicator of a clean stream.

Saucony has also teamed up with the Schuylkill  Action Network and offered to donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of Stonefly to restoration projects benefitting the Schuylkill River, a drinking water source for more than two million people. The Saucony Creek empties into it.

And on Friday — this is Philly Beer Week, of course — Stonefly is getting a fitting celebration.

Friday marks the end of the Schuylkill Sojourn, a weeklong paddling and kayaking expedition down the river, aimed at raising awareness for the river. And at having a heck of a lot of fun.

The paddlers — including folks from the brewery and the Schuylkill Action Network — will transport a ceremonial keg of Stonefly down the final stretch of the route, and it will wind up at the gazebo at the Fairmount Water Works for a press conference that will undoubtedly be singing its praises.

But the keg's trip isn't over yet. (And no quaffing just yet, either!)

Next, it will be biked along the Schuylkill River Trail to a Philly Beer Week event that begins at 5:30 p.m. at Grace Tavern.

Where, finally, you can have a sip. Or more.