A service club has joined with Grand Valley breweries in an effort that promotes business, beer and philanthropy.

An application designed by the Horizon Sunrise Rotary Club enables people buying beer at participating businesses to direct money to local charities.

“We’re excited by the positive impact the Ale Trail will have on local charities that Rotary is committed to,” said Carmen Shipley, president of the Horizon Sunrise Rotary Club. “We believe this project will provide a fun way to support local businesses while fulfilling our club vision to improve lives.”

Participants download the free Donor Trail app from the Apple or Google stores and select the Grand Valley Ale Trail. The app includes an interactive map of participating businesses as well as descriptions and links to their websites.

Users track their progress on the trail as they visit participating businesses. Users recoup the $20 purchase price of the trail pass by using electronic coupons good at each stop on the trail.

Participants choose where proceeds from their purchases are directed — the Horizon Sunrise Rotary Club as well as the Center for Children, Meals on Wheels and Roice-Hurst Humane Society.

An event to launch the Grand Valley Ale Trail is set for 5:30 to 8 p.m. Aug. 26 at Monumental Beer Works located at 2575 U.S. Highway 6 & 50 in Grand Junction.

The Grand Valley Ale Trail includes 13 stops: Ale House, Colorado Vintner’s Collection, Copper Club Brewing, Edgewater Brewery, Handlebar Tap House, Kannah Creek Brewing, Monumental Beer Works, Octillo Restaurant & Bar, Palisade Brewing, Ramblebine Brewing, Rockslide Brewery, Scotland Yard Cigar & Spirits and Suds Brothers Brewery.

Brian Fisher, owner of Monumental Beer Works, said the Grand Valley Ale Trail offers another way for the business to contribute to the community. 

“At Monument Beer Works, community is an integral measure of our culture and contributes to the quality of the beer that we make,” Fisher said. “We are excited to be a stop on the Grand Valley Ale Trail journey, and this is one more way in which we can use people’s love of beer to support various charitable efforts.”

For more information about the Grand Valley Ale Trail, visit https://donortrail.com/gvat.