Brew Fest pours its efforts into Kyle’s Quillows

Ben Franklin’s long list of contributions to society range from science to the Declaration of Independence.

Not to shortchange one of the Founding Fathers I do love electricity and seeing his face on the $100 bill

but it’s one of Franklin’s simpler offerings I base today’s column on:

“Beer is proof God wants us to be happy.”

It’s been splashed across pint glasses and T-shirts. A simple saying whose truth has many examples, especially in Philadelphia. Beer is an anodyne for our pain when the home team is losing, or, like this season for the Eagles, the celebratory suds.

Except, in true Philadelphia fashion, my bubble was burst this week on Ben’s beer quote.

According to the Franklin Institute, Benjamin Franklin never said it— about beer, at least. In a circa-1779 letter to the Abbé Morellet, Franklin muses on biblical mentions of wine and remarks, “Behold the rain which descends from heaven upon our vineyards; there it enters the roots of the vines, to be changed into wine; a constant proof that God loves us, and loves to see us happy.”

OK, so he was talking about wine. I know I get the “beer before liquor” reminder mixed up at times.

Beer and other spirits (when enjoyed responsibly) as part of a dining scene have provided an economic boost to towns such as Phoenixville, Ardmore and Media. Home brewers and beer festivals are also on the uptick.

One of the area’s best can be found on Saturday, Oct. 28, at the Pottstown Brew Fest. It was named the “Best Outdoor Event” in Montgomery County in 2015 and 2016 by Montco Happening and a “Top Five Best Local 2016 Outdoor Event,” by Philly A-List.

“Beer is fun. It brings people together. Instead of finding differences, we find similarities,” said Tim Hennessey, executive director of the fest. “We have something for everybody. A variety of styles – IPA’s stouts, porters, browns, sours, mead, wine, spirits and cider.”

The afternoon event at Norco Fire Company bills itself as a celebration of craft beer, wine, cider, food and music. Guests will have the opportunity to sample over 110 beers and ciders from the best craft brewers from the Mid-Atlantic region and across the United States. Local breweries that will be participating include Hidden River, Pottstown United Brewing, Victory, Sly Fox and Weak Knee Homebrew in addition to popular national brewers, including Stone, Founders, Almanac and Modern Times. A full listing is available on the Pottstown Brew Fest website at www.PottstownBrewFest.com. Hennessey says his top three “must-samples” are Pottstown United Brewing, Hidden River Brewing and Abomination.

“For 2017, we want to build upon that and make the Brew Fest even better. We are offering more local breweries, more music, more food choices, and better parking with the new location,” said Hennessey.

The day isn’t only about enjoying brews with friends. The event was founded to raise money to aid the local community. Hennessey pointed out that Pottstown hasn’t been revitalized like Phoenixville or Media, and organizers wanted to bring people into town to see the good they were doing and have a good time. The Pottstown Brew Fest also benefits the Kyle’s Quillows and the Norco Fire Company.

Kyle’s Quillows makes home-sewn quillows (a cross between a pillow and a blanket) to brighten and cheer children facing lifethreatening illnesses. The soft, warm fabric works as a reminder that many people are cheering for their recovery.

It started in 2011 when Kyle Malmstrom, a 12-yearold boy from Spring City, was diagnosed with severe aplastic anemia, which required a bone marrow transplant from his identical twin brother, Andrew, at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. While spending a month at CHOP, Kyle saw the need for patients to have items that brought comfort and “quillows” met that need perfectly. He called his grandmother and asked her to make the girl in the next room a quillow. Kyle, Andrew and a few of their friends made quillows when he returned home from the hospital.

Today, Kyle is a senior at Owen J. Roberts High School, and over 5,000 quillows have been donated worldwide.

“Now, we have so many so many survivors behind Kyle’s Quillows we want to give hope to other kids and families. This morning I was talking to a family in New Zealand telling them about Kyle, who is on the cross team and in the marching band,” said Kim Malmstrom, Kyle’s mother.

“We were excited they chose us,” continued Malmstrom. “Kyle’s come a long way.”

Cheers to that. Katie Kohler is an awardwinning columnist and journalist. She is a Norristown native and a current resident of King of Prussia. Visit her at www. katiekohler.com. Email kkohler1129@gmail.com.