A number of local breweries, including Big Ditch Brewing, New York Beer Project and Southern Tier Brewing, are aiding in relief efforts for victims of Hurricane Helene.
Throughout October, Big Ditch Brewing donate $2 from every pint of Squeezer Dry-Hopped Kettle Sour and all 3 New York Beer Project locations (Lockport, Orchard Park, Victor) will donate $1 from each pint of Destination IPA sold as part of the “Pouring for Neighbors” initiative, which features hundreds of breweries and companies across the county donating a portion of proceeds from their craft beers to support disaster relief efforts.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the recent hurricanes. To help, we’re proud to join breweries nationwide in the “Pouring for Neighbors” initiative, with proceeds going toward disaster relief efforts in Western North Carolina,” Big Ditch says.
Hurricane Helene was the strongest hurricane on record to strike the Big Bend region of Florida, the deadliest Atlantic hurricane since Maria in 2017, and the deadliest to strike the mainland U.S. since Katrina in 2005. The death toll currently sits at more than 225 people, with deaths recorded across six states, a number that could rise as recovery efforts continue.
“Western North Carolina’s breweries have been foundational for our craft beer community. Long known as a catalyst for craft beer in North Carolina, this region has been devastated by Hurricane Helene. As they embark on the long road to recovery, we are calling on breweries everywhere to join us in making a difference,” the Pouring for Neighbors initiative says. “Together, we can help our neighbors rebuild, pint by pint.”
The storm and the damage left in its wake, along with the impact of Hurricane Milton, hits home, literally, for New York Beer Project, who has a brewery taproom location in Orlando.
“We are sitting here in Lockport, but our hearts and thoughts are with our Beer Project in Orlando,” NYBP Owner Kelly Krupski says. “We have closed our doors today so our team can be safe and with their families. We [have] handed out lots of filtered water to our neighbors who couldn’t find any at the stores. This just is so devastating to all the communities that have been torn apart by a historic hurricane season.”
Helene’s devastation, sadly, wasn’t just confined to the state of Florida either, spanning half a dozen states along the Eastern seaboard, including North Carolina, another destination that is near and dear to the hearts of the owners of NYBP, a major contributing factor to the brewery’s involvement in the Pouring for Neighbors campaign.
“Asheville also holds such a place in our hearts as brewery owners,” Krupski adds. “We just wanted to do something – anything – so we chose Destination IPA, our foundational beer, and Asheville is a destination town for so many beer centric explorers. We are joining our Buffalo beer community, along with everyone in the New York State Brewers Association, North Carolina Craft Brewer’s Guild and Pouring for Neighbors directive. All of our donations can hopefully help our friends to rebuild this vital and beautiful community. Our hearts are with everyone affected by this freak of nature that we unfortunately can’t control and ironically the name of an IPA brewed by Wicked Weed in Asheville, North Carolina.”
Additionally, Southern Tier has donated $44,366 to the Red Cross of Western North Carolina, Samaritan’s Purse, and World Central Kitchen.
“With your incredible generosity and support, we raised $39,366 across our 13 Southern Tier and sister brand locations for Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Western North Carolina, including the matched donation,” STBC says. We’d also like to give a special shoutout to our IT and Cyber Security Managed Services Partner, Brite, for their generous contribution of $5,000, bringing the total to $44,366. We’re proud to extend our support to several wonderful organizations involved in the relief efforts, including the Red Cross of Western North Carolina, Samaritan’s Purse, and World Central Kitchen. Together, we’re making a difference.”
For more information, visit https://drinkncbeer.org/pouring-for-neighbors.
Brian Campbell is co-founder and Brand Manager of the Buffalo Beer League, and writes the weekly Buffalo Beer Buzz column. If you have beer news that should be included in the Beer Buzz, Brian can be reached at brian@buffalobeerleague.com, on Twitter (@buffbeerleague), Instagram (@buffalobeerleague), and Facebook (@thebuffalobeerleague).