Early on Saturday morning, local beer enthusiasts and nature lovers gathered for the “Canoes for a Cause” cleanup on Apponagansett Beach.

The cleanup was hosted by the Jacob Leinenkugel Brewing Company, a company that takes a lot of pride in keeping the outdoors clean and beautiful. Leinenkugel is all about outdoors, “fun and helping out” said Leinenkugel Brewery employee Jeff Wood.

“We get together at each market and do what’s called a water stewardship,” Wood said. “[It’s] pretty much just taking care of the environment so we can all enjoy it for years to come.”

The South Coast area is, of course, surrounded by waterfronts so it only made sense to bring Canoes for a Cause to the area.

Participants were asked to bring their own canoes and kayaks to paddle through the inner harbor collecting any loose trash or debris from the water. Several participants took to the shores as well, toting garbage bags and picking up stray litter.

Much of the ocean remains unexplored, and yet, many of the areas just being discovered by scientists have been found to be covered in human litter. Beer cans constitute one of the biggest sources of waste and can be readily found in these unexplored areas of the ocean.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ocean explorer Stephanie Lessard-Pion once noted that even miles from shore and 2,200 meters below the surface, beer cans, fishing wire and empty bags littered the ocean floor.

Because of this, the Leinenkugel Company has made it its responsibility to keep the environment beautiful.

Dartmouth wasn’t the only town participating in the cleanup. Leinenkugel was holding three cleanups throughout New England, in Greenfield, Massachusetts and Enfield, Connecticut as well as right on Apponagansett Bay. Another cleanup was held on Earth Day in Boston earlier this year in partnership with the Charles River Water Association.

“It’s all about water stewardship,” said Beer Merchant Manager Ryan Murphy. “When you think about beer, 90 percent of it is water, so water is very important to the liquid we all enjoy. We all want to do our part to keep the waterways nice and clean.”

“Growing up on the water, it’s personal for us,” Wood added. “That’s what [the company] is all about, the outdoors and water, but for us it kind of hit close to home, too. We’re just trying to help out.”

The association has successfully recruited and enlightened people that might not typically be so environmentally conscious, said Wood.

“Having the brand behind [Canoes for a Cause], and then localizing it really brings it to life,” Wood said.

The beauty of the Leinenkugel Brewing Company is how little water they waste and how important sustainability is to them, said Murphy.

Of course, where beer is involved, it certainly isn’t all fun and no play. After the cleanup, participants and locals were invited to the Black Bass Grille in Padanaram Village for an appreciation party. Food, beer and prizes were available to participants as a thank you for their help.