Chattanooga breweries join California wildfire effort
Five Chattanooga breweries are pledging to raise funds for those affected by the Camp Fire in Northern California that killed at least 85 people and destroyed about 14,000 homes nearly four weeks ago.
The effort is part of a national campaign started by the California-based Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. to lend a helping hand. Chattanooga Brewing Co., Heaven & Ale, Hutton & Smith, Naked River Brewing and Oddstory joined 25 other breweries in Tennessee for the campaign.
“With so many breweries spread across our state, the selfless support from the Tennessee brewing community is truly awesome,” Tennessee Craft Brewers President Adam Ingle said in a statement Thursday. “The solidarity of Tennessee brewers is inspiring and it is the hope of every participating brewery that we make a positive difference for the California fire victims.”
The Sierra Nevada’s Resilience Butte County Proud IPA, which was made specifically for this fundraising opportunity, will be brewed by the participating companies across the U.S. Each is being sent instructions on how to make the beer at their breweries. It will be available in participating taprooms beginning in January.
“Joel [Krautstrunk], our head brewer, really made the decision for us,” Hutton & Smith owner Melanie Krautstrunk said. “It’s fun to collaborate with other breweries. It gets you outside your box and lets you try something you wouldn’t have tried on your own while helping the victims of the fire.”
Other companies, including Cargill Malt, HopSteiner, Country Malt Group and Keg Logistics, have come alongside the partners to provide ingredients and supplies.
“We are working with malt, hop and yeast suppliers to provide raw ingredient donations to all participating breweries and are asking those breweries to donate 100 percent of their sales to the fund, as well,” according to a statement from Sierra Nevada Founder Ken Grossman.