A TOTAL of 23 Airlie Beach-based businesses will soon stock James Grugeon's Great Barrier Beer - a beverage created to help save the reef.

Mr Grugeon, who founded the Good Beer Co., was in Airlie Beach on Friday to launch the beer at a special event, hosted by the Whitsunday Arts and Cultural Centre.

"We had many conversations with businesses at the launch on Friday night and they all loved the beer and loved the concept," he said.

Mr Grugeon said the businesses who had signed up to stock the beer, ranged from small restaurants and bars to bigger bottle shops and tourism operators.

On Friday night, representatives from these businesses and other interested locals were invited to have a free taste of the Great Barrier Beer, with Mr Grugeon saying "we went through about 247 bottles of beer on the night".

Locals will soon know where to buy the beer when Mr Grugeon releases the names of the new stockists in the next few weeks.

His company will donate up to 50 percent of profits from the Great Barrier Beer to the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS).

Whitsunday-based AMCS community Campaigner, Cherry Muddle said there was a serious undertone to everyone enjoying a free beer.

"When I first moved here over three years ago, the reef was facing unprecedented industrialisation," she said.

"100 million tonnes of dredging and dumping took place to make way for a shipping super highway and millions of people around the world were outraged.

"(But) the World Heritage Committee threatened to place the reef on the endangered list and in response, the community came together."

Ms Muddle said she was overwhelmed by the turn-out on Friday and the support locally for the project.

"It really shows the strength and the support of the community in protecting the reef," she said.