While we’re all caught up in COVID-19 pandemic madness, it’s easy to lose sight of the fact that despite the social distancing, self-isolation and constant impending doom, we still have it pretty damn good in this safe and stable corner of North America. There are billions of people who have it infinitely worse, and something simple as walking to our kitchen, turning on the tap, and getting as much crystal clear, delicious clean water as we want is still an unfathomable luxury in many parts of the world.

Back in 2016, the Scottish charity Brewgooder was formed to do something about that. Brewgooder’s goal is to bring clean drinking water to at least 1,000,000 people and it released its own beer, Clean Water Lager, to achieve that. 100% of Brewgooder’s profits are given to clean water charities and so far have funded infrastructure projects that have provided drinking water to more than 70,000 people and counting in Malawi.

This year, Brewgooder has launched the Brewgooder Global Gathering, with more than 240 breweries from 22 countries taking part. Participating breweries are releasing small batch, one-off beers with proceeds being used to help fund clean water projects.

Wowawasa is Four Winds Brewing’s contribution to Brewgooder Global Gathering (Dageraad and 33 Acres have also released Global Gathering beers) and it’s a shame that it’s a one-off, because it’s absolutely fantastic. This gooseberry gose offers perfectly balanced minerality and tartness, and a refreshing burst of fruity flavour.

In addition to gooseberry (which is actually closely related to the tomatillo, true story), there are intoxicating notes of apricot and peach. The finish is clean, dry and delightfully tart, and at just 4.6% ABV, there’s really no excuse not to have another. Given the unprecedented stretch of sunshine we’re having, Wowawasa makes an ideal patio companion, in the absence of any human company. And you can drink guilt-free knowing your beer money is doing some good in the world.

But even if you’re a complete sociopath and don’t care about the suffering of others, you should absolutely go buy this beer, because it’s goddamn delicious.

Drink this: Wowawasa by Four Winds Brewing

Gose • 4.6% ABV • 16 IBU • 473 mL tall cans

Appearance: Hazy straw yellow with a billowing but short-lived thick white head.

Aroma: Fruity, gooseberry, stone fruit, brine.

Flavour: Gooseberry, stone fruit, apricot, peach, bubble gum, Sauvignon blanc, balanced minerality, tart, clean.

Body/Finish: Light bodied with a tart, dry finish.

Pairs with: Goat cheese, pan seared spot prawns, ceviche and lying in the sun on the patio, half drunk, until this whole thing is over.