Rogue Ales & Spirits brewery making hand sanitizer for frontline workers

As the world continues to be affected by coronavirus, one Oregon brewery has switched up its production to pump out hand sanitizer during shortages.

Announced by Rogue Ales & Spirits, the Newport, Oregon, distillery says they saw an opportunity to lend a hand, shifting their brewery output to a simple sanitizer recipe that is being shipped to local frontline workers all over Lincoln County.

“There’s a massive shortage of so many life-saving supplies right now and we wanted to do something to help,” says Brian Pribyl, head distiller at Rogue. “As a distillery, we make alcohol every day, so a hand sanitizer was an obvious way to help.”

• See also:
  • Powell’s Books rehiring more than 100 employees after spike in online sales
  • Hotels in New York are providing hospital space for coronavirus patients
  • Here are the shopping hours for all major downtown Portland grocery stores

Rogue’s “Helping Hand Hand Sanitizer” is a basic mix of 80% ethanol, hydrogen peroxide, distilled water, and glycerin.

“What’s really great about our hand sanitizer initiative is that it came about as an employee passion project and their dream became a reality thanks to a collaborative team effort,” adds Jack Waibel vice president of production.

The state of the coronavirus pandemic in Oregon is an ever-shifting one, with amplified restrictions on leaving your home, to a complete banning of gatherings that are non-essential.

Those still fighting the virus on the front line have been running low on cleaning supplies, masks, sanitizers, and other personal protective equipment. Much like Pacific Northwest’s Boeing, companies from all over the world are doing what they can to chip in while normal production halts due to a pause in the everyday economy.