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I am pretty scattershot with my coffee buying. Most times, I get the latest seasonal offering from Trader Joe’s but when I saw this bag at my local Whole Foods of the Amazon, I decided to give it a whirl since donations to charity always work on me. And this was really good. I will have to look around to find the Hard Wired beer from Left Hand to compare but this was light and a bit fruity without too much acidity to it.
I saw this photo (well, it was actually a short video) on Facebook and was immediately taken by the cleverness of re-purposing tap handles into a fountain and then taking that next step to have that fountain collect change for charity. Brilliant.
The next time that I go into a beer establishment that has placed the tap handles along the ceiling or something less imaginative will get me to thinking of how it can be fit with more flair into a space.
I am a huge proponent of the charity beer be it all the proceeds, part of the proceeds or even just raising awareness. Anchor Brewing has added a new IPA to their line-up, Baykeeper to honor that group’s 30th anniversary of being an advocate for one of the most iconic bays in the world.
It is too late for this year but I would like to make a suggestion to breweries that they incorporate the spirit of the Thanksgiving and Christmas into their 2019 holiday beers.
Yes, it can be fruitcake or cranberry or chocolate yule log inspired but I am thinking more about having collaborative ales where the proceeds go to gifts for kids, or for food or for those dedicated to helping the homeless.
I know that the brewing community has been a big giver in the past and present. Just look at the recent efforts from Sierra Nevada and Ladyface Ale Companie this month alone. CANarchy has been canning water for disaster relief as well.
My suggestion would be for a Guild effort beer, for Los Angeles I would call it Holiday Unity like the L.A. Beer Week beer and rotate the main brewery each year as that beer now is. Spread the cost and spread the holiday spirit.
Not only has Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. started a fund to help those affected by the Camp Fire but they are going another step when they brew their new Resilience Butte County Proud IPA. 100 percent of Resilience IPA sales go to Camp Fire relief.
The Chico brewery will brew the new IPA purposefully on Giving Tuesday, November 27 (probably for the good karma added). Sierra Nevada has invited other breweries to create their own versions of Resilience on that day and donate 100 percent of the sales to Camp Fire relief.
Resilience IPA will hit distribution sometime in early January with limited distribution in cans and draft. I strongly suggest getting and giving this beer to your beer loving friends.
I have tweeted about supporting Ladyface Ales who was affected by the horrible November fires that hit California. I will also be visiting myself (rain or shine oh deluded orange leader) to buy a beer or two as a small gesture.
Sierra Nevada is making an even bigger gesture to help those who have lost due to the Camp Fire.
They have a Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Relief Fund with Golden Valley Bank Community Foundation. They have deposited the large amount of $100,000 to seed the fund and “will distribute all donated money to partner organizations that are dedicated to rebuilding and supporting the communities that have been affected.”
If you would like to donate, follow this LINK or checks can be made payable to “GVBCF – Sierra Nevada” and either dropped off at Golden Valley Bank or mailed to 190 Cohasset Road, Chico, CA 95926.
With the recent release of the not surprising / horror movie scary book Fire and Fury that details the shitstorm that is the current White House, maybe it is better to be more optimistic.
That is where Beer Trumps Hate comes in. This series of charity beers was started by Rooftop Brew Co to take action by showing how to not act like a disgruntled toddler.
Each month a different Washington State Brewery brews a beer where the proceeds will benefit a charity of their choosing. Here are the first two beers of the 2018 agenda….
January 2018
Rooftop Brew Co. created the Beer Trumps Hate Imp. Peach Mint IPA, and all proceeds will be donated to Washington Wild.
February 2018
Stoup Brewing is donating the proceeds of their BTH brew to the Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA).
We may not be able to drink the beer but they also have a store with stickers and shirts you can buy.
King Harbor Brewing will host the IV of Chad’s Beer Cellar this June 10, from 1-5pm.
Here is the info, straight from Chad….
“Local beer hoarder and trader (and King Harbor Brewing partner), Chad Hazen, has been collecting various bottles, cans (and even fresh crowlers) for the 4th installment of this charity event – presented and hosted by King Harbor Brewing, and benefiting Richstone Family Center. All money from each ticket goes DIRECTLY to Richstone!
Richstone is dedicated to preventing and treating child abuse, strengthening families, and preventing violence in families, schools and communities.
He has currently sourced over 200 different rare/hard-to-find beers – many from his personal stock, and many others donated by gracious fellow craft beer friends and breweries throughout the country (Bond Bros, Boneyard, Lakewood, Half Acre, Weyerbacher, Transmitter, Creature Comforts, Ranger Creek, Night Shift – and others TBD).
Limited to 100 tickets, it will be a fairly intimate gathering, with unlimited small pours flowing. But once a particular bottle is gone, that’s it!”
If you have a whale hunter friend, this might just be the perfect ticket for them.
Tickets are $65 each and can be purchased at this LINK.
On Tuesday, April 25th you can make a difference by just having food and beer.
Link N Hops will donate 15% of sales from the whole day to the Syrian American Medical Society
You can also meet & greet representatives from the SAMS organization who will be on hand starting at 6:00 pm to answer questions and collect additional donations.
You can learn more about the Syrian American Medical Society (SAMS) HERE.
The Bruery layered double meaning into their first Share This beer. Not only was it decidedly high alcohol and super rich and made for sharing with other beer geeks. But $1 from each bottle of Share This: Coffee went to the Free Wheelchair Mission and raised $50,000 or 550 wheelchairs!
For round two “The Bruery looked to the culinary world to provide inspiration for the second installment of their collaborative and charitable Share This® series. Being based in Southern California, we are very fortunate to have some of the best Mexican cuisine in the world. By channeling that local influence and considering all of the high-quality ingredients they could find, Mexico was an easy choice to be the next region. To help The Bruery develop an authentic flavor profile they worked with Chef Anne Conness, herself a Certified Cicerone®. After a lot of hard work (and some delicious tamale pie), Share This®: Mole was born; an Imperial Stout with ancho chilies, chipotle peppers, cinnamon, vanilla and cacao nibs.”
The beer will be available on November 11th