I get all teary-eyed and warm inside when I get to write posts like this.  For something as terrible as the wildfires that are beating the living shit out of California to bring forth anything that resembles happiness is definitely saying something major.  These are the times that we are reminded what this industry community is all about.

If you’re one of the uber-beer geeks that read this site, I’m sure that you’ve heard a thing or two about the IPA that this country brewed up nationwide yesterday – if not… let’s talk.

About The Fire

Sierra Nevada was forced to temporarily shut down their brewery this month as what is now the most destructive wildfire in California history came within a few miles of their Chico headquarters.  The fire has claimed the lives of 75 people (with hundreds still missing), destroyed thousands of people’s homes and destroyed about 125,000 acres of land.  It’s nasty.

While the brewery was spared, a spokesperson for Sierra Nevada said that more than 10 percent of their workforce has been displaced with some people still not even knowing if their homes are still standing.  It’s mind numbing to think about this in a community as tight-knit as craft beer is.  At the end of the day, if we’re doing this right we’re all family.

Almost immediately, Sierra Nevada’s owner Ken Grossman and his family established the Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Community Fund, donating $100,000 and hoping to raise much more than that to give to organizations dedicated to rebuilding the communities affected by the fires.

About The Beer

The question was brought forth in the brewery “What can we do to help?”… Ken Grossman answered on Facebook:

Many of you have asked if we will be brewing a fundraiser beer to support Camp Fire relief efforts.  The answer is a resounding “yes”.

We are proud to announce that we’ll be brewing resilience Butte County Proud IPA and donating 100 percent of sales to Camp Fire relief.  In addition, we’re also asking every brewery in America to brew Resilience and to do the same.

I’m sending a letter to brewers across the country, inviting them to join us in a collaboration brew day on Tuesday, November 27th.  We are working with malt and hop suppliers to provide raw ingredient donations to all participating breweries and are asking those breweries to donate 100 percent of their sales, as well.

We know that the rebuilding process will take time, but we’re in this for the long haul.  Our hope is to get Resilience IPA in taprooms all over the country to create a solid start for our community’s future.

Thank you to each and every one of you for your support.  We’re right here with you and we’ll get through this together.

-Ken

This community answered… more than 1000 breweries have responded that they’re in as of writing this, including 13 as of my last count from here in town.  If this doesn’t make you feel good, and remind you what it’s all about – I don’t know what to tell you.

Together, all across the country and all across Cincinnati – they brewed up a beer that will be on tap in taprooms all across the country – with 100% of proceeds going to relief funds – Sierra Nevada will also be putting their’s into packaging in early 2019.

If you see this on tap, or when packaging hits shelves – buy it.  Tell the person at the bar next to you what it’s all about.  Buy them a round.  We’ve all had things in our lives that have been difficult, we’ve all had people step up and help us when we needed it.  Be part of a community that shows the world what craft beer is really all about.

Locally…

I mentioned that we’ve got 13 breweries locally that have (or are) brewing this up to help participate.  These folks are Gnarly:

  • Braxton
  • Christian Moerlein
  • DogBerry
  • Fifty West
  • Grainworks
  • Listermann
  • MadTree
  • Narrow Path
  • Paradise
  • Rhinegeist
  • Sonder
  • Streetside
  • Swine City
  • Wiedemann

Keep your eyes peeled to social media (and this page right here) where I’ll be sharing the release dates for our local versions of this beer as they become available.  I’d expect to start to see this around Christmas.

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