Brewing Up Wildfire Relief Brewing Up Wildfire Relief

CAMILLUS, N.Y. (NCC News) — The Camp Fire in Butte County, California started on November 8th and is continuing to spread. Stories of lives and property lost in Northern California wildfires have been in the news for weeks.

Even though Syracuse is over 2,000 miles away, New Yorkers are still eager to help.

Over 1,000 American craft breweries, including 20 in Upstate New York, are teaming up with Sierra Nevada Brewing Company to brew a new beer recipe: the Resilience Butte County Proud IPA.

The beer, named after the location of the Sierra Nevada factory and the wildfires, is a typical IPA recipe.

But, country-wide beer distribution isn’t the end goal of the project.

“I’m sending a letter to brewers across the country, inviting them to join us in this effort,” Ken Grossman, owner/founder of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., said in a statement. “We are working with malt, hop and yeast suppliers to provide raw ingredient donations to all participating breweries and are asking those breweries donate 100 percent of their sales to the fund, as well.”

Local 315 Brewing Company in Camillus, NY answered the call.

Starting on Tuesday, November 27, the national brewing process commenced, said Josh Mersfelder, Head of Brewing Operations.

While Local 315 might be happy to add flavors to their tap room, Mersfelder says that coming together with other brewers across the country makes it memorable.

“Tragedies aren’t going to stop, but it’s a cool way to get a really tight-knit community together across the country to make something all the same, or with their own interpretation, obviously,” said Mersfelder.

If you’re over 21 years old, the Resilience Butte County Proud IPA beer will be on sale in late December so you can do your part with a pint.

 

Siegal: Whether it’s to relax or celebrate, beer brings people together. However, Josh Mersfelder at Local 315 Brewing says that Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is giving beer a bigger purpose.

Mersfelder: So they reached out to a bunch of brewers across the country to do a collaboration batch with a recipe that they sent out. So in turn, we will sell that beer and all the proceeds will go back to what they’re calling the Camp Fire Relief Fund.

Siegal: Stories of lives and property lost in Northern California wildfires have been in the news for weeks. In an attempt to help those out west, over 1,000 American craft breweries, including 20 in Upstate New York, are brewing the Resilience Butte County Proud IPA. While Local 315 might be happy to add flavors to their tap room, coming together with other brewers makes it memorable.

Mersfelder: Like, tragedies aren’t going to stop, but it’s a cool way to get a really tight-knit community together across the country to make something all the same, or with their own interpretation, obviously.

Siegal: If you’re over 21 years old, the Sierra Nevada beer will be on sale in a few weeks so you can do your part with a pint. From Camillus, Chelsea Siegal NCC News.

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Chelsea Siegal

Chelsea Siegal is from Port Washington, NY. She is currently a senior in the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University majoring in Broadcast and Digital Journalism with a minor in Sport Management. To view her work, visit www.chelseasiegal.com

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