Tag Archives: Charity

Beer News, torque

Torque – Foundation American Pale Ale

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Torque - Foundation - 2018

So, this is going to be less of a review and a bit more of a write-up on the beer style and why I think it’s awesome. Torque has consistently been doing fun things with beer since they opened over a year ago. They’ve always got interesting beers on at their taproom and have been putting out a wide-range of brews for us to enjoy in bottles and cans. One such beer is their “Foundation” American Pale Ale.

American Pale Ales (APA) are, obviously, pale, refreshing and well hopped but with the right amount of malt backbone to balance the beer. The opportunity to select from hops can give this beer a range and either reflect classic hops or new world hops. Generally, an APA is more accessible than an IPA while still providing a hop forward flavour.

The APA is a modern American craft beer adaptation of the English pale ale. These beers tend to reflect ingredients that can be sourced by the brewery locally. While these beers are an American craft beer invention, the desire to source locally means that this Italian version will hopefully have a little bit of that old-world flare.

Prior to the explosion of popularity of the IPA, the American Pale Ale was the most well-known and popular of the American craft beer styles.

What makes the American Pale Ale from Torque so much better is that it supports charity. Last year they raised over $10,000 for Habitat for Humanity from the sale of Foundation at their taproom and in twelve-packs. Not only that, but it’s an easy drinking, refreshing, and well-hopped beer that is perfect to enjoy in this warm weather.

This year Torque has partnered with the Never Alone Foundation to raise funds in support of those affected by cancer. Torque will be donating $4 from every case of foundation to this worthy cause. The beer is launching this week and I really recommend people get out and pick some up. Not only do I think the beer is well done, it’s also for a great cause. If you are looking to stock your fridge with something that is refreshing, well-hopped and supports a great cause, Foundation is the beer for you.

I also want to highlight that I’ve been mistaken the past couple of weeks with the next beers from Torque. Torque’s “Czech Please” Czech pilsner will be out shortly and that will be followed by Magnetic North Hefeweizen and a six-pack of their Hazy Whaler New England IPA.

I’m off to Nova Scotia for work this week so I may not get a chance to post a Friday Beer news. I’ll certainly be tweeting about east-coast beers and look forward to trying out some of what’s new.

-Beer Winnipeg

 

International Collaborative Women's Brew Day, Peg Beer Co.

International Women’s Collaborative Brew Day

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The last time I was in to PEG Beer Co. I had a chance to chat with Dot, the events manager. They were talking about participating in International Women’s Collaboration Brew day. I had heard of this day in the past but never looked too much into it. So, I decided it’d be fun to chat with Dot and find out what this day is all about and what we can expect here in Winnipeg.

International Women’s Collaboration Brew day has been around for four years. It’s relates to International Women’s Day and is a global even involving women in the brewing industry from around the world. The day is meant to raise the profile of women working in the brewing industry and to encourage others who might interested in getting involved.

The day was founded by Sophie De Ronde who is the NPD Brewing Technologist at Muntons Malt in the UK.  Reaching out to members of the Pink Boots Society, a non-profit organization of women in the brewing industry, she sought to start a unified day to encourage women to get together and brew beer. Each year there is a theme to help guide those getting together to brew.

In the first year, a pale ale called Unite was brewed by over 60 women in in 5 different countries. The second year saw a red ale called Unite brewed by over 80 women in eleven different countries, while 2016 saw women from around the world get together to brew something new.

This year, the theme is Unite once again, but rather than have a specific style they are asking women to Unite with Local industry to come up with a beer and brew it. Dot and her team made of up women who are either involved in the brewing industry or passionate about brewing beer, have decided to brew a beer using local honey and local hops from Sandra Gowan’s Prairie Gem hop farm. The name of this wonderful collaborative beer? “Don’t Call Me Honey”.

Those participating in the collaborative brew day are encouraged to donate any profits they might make from the sale of the beer to a charity. While Dot has participated the past 2 years, this is the first time that Winnipeg will see a commercial brewery participate and can make profits. This coincides wonderfully with the concept of a “community tap” that Nicole Barry had for PEG even before opening. So, this beer will be the first community tap and profits will be donated to the Women’s Health Clinic.

The team is made up of: Nicole Barry, Dot Ball, Naomi Goertzen from PEG, Adrienne Johanson from Barn Hammer, Jodi Ruta, Hailey Breland from Half Pints, Sara Drysdale, Jody Twomey, Jenna Diubaldo and Laura Tait.

This will be the first time that Dot and her team have brewed a beer commercially. They’ve expanded the group to include some new faces this year as well. The goal is to include women in the industry and those who are interested in beer. The entire goal behind the day is to encourage more women to get involved in the industry which has been traditionally male dominated, and to give a space for women who are interested in learning more with mentors.

This event at PEG is officially linked with the International Women’s Collaborative Brew Day and they show up on the map along with a variety of other Canadian breweries including Rebellion in SK.

The beer itself is being brewed on March 8th and a release event will be held on April 2nd. For those women who are interested in beer and getting started on brewing, Dot has these words to share:

“Start home brewing, try new beer, and make sure it’s fun.”

I for one am excited to try the beer.

-Beer Winnipeg

 

Beer News, Winnipeg

Charity Raffle

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Charity Header.jpg

What do you get when you take a really great guy who gets his hands on some really great beer? An opportunity to make some money for charity.

Trevor Lehmann, game publisher and owner of convergent games, had the opportunity to travel to Belgium and visit the world famous Westvleteren Trappist Monastery where he secured five bottles of their Belgian quadruple Westvleteren 12. These highly sought after beers are only sold from the monastery and are limited to six bottle per visit. Many in the beer community make a pilgrimage to the monastery and enjoy their five beers with friends and colleagues. Trevor had a different idea.

Trevor decided that these bottles could be used to help others. So, he organized a charity raffle that will be occurring at Barley Brothers Stadium on January 29th, 2017. Lehmann intends to donate all ticket sales to Winnipeg Harvest, a local charity which moved 13.7 million pounds of food to families in need last year.

Being entrepreneurial, Lehmann got others involved in donating prizes for the event. Fort Garry has donated a full-stocked beer fridge, Grape and Grain has donated a home brewers kit and mix, and there will be other items to be raffled off from Half-Pints and Barley Brothers. There will also be some local brewery representatives in attendance to answer questions, talk beer, and likely try to take a bottle home for themselves.

This is an excellent opportunity for beer-lovers and those who love beer lovers to get out and support a fantastic cause. There is a chance to win some highly sought after beers, enjoy a few drinks from Barley Brothers craft beer line-up, and talk beer with some of the people who know it best.

The drawing for the beers and prizes will begin at 4:45pm. Anyone who is interested in participating should make sure to get down to Barley Brothers and buy their tickets before this time.

What: Beer Raffle in support of Winnipeg Harvest
When: January 29th from 2:30-5:30pm (Ticket deadline is 4:45pm)
Where: Barley Brothers Stadium (2005 Pembina)
Who: Trevor Lehmann of Convergent Games, local brewers and fantastic prizes

I will be there, so I am afraid not all the bottles are up for grabs as I am sure I’ll take home at least one…right? That’s how this works?

Seriously though, please come down, say hello, and help support Trevor Lehmann in his goal to raise money for Winnipeg Harvest.

 

Barn Hammer, Winnipeg

Barn Hammer- Barn Raising

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Barn Hammer

The beer scene in Winnipeg is starting to reach maturity. Barn Hammer has been open for a while with Torque and Peg Beer Co now joining the fray with their own beer. I expect we will see others join the market in short order. While each is taking a different approach to their production of beer, what seems to be a common thread is giving back to community. This is something that is almost a trademark of craft breweries: not just making beer, but being a part of the community in which you live and serve.

For Barn Hammer, this type of community support comes out through their “Barn Raising” initiative. Drawing on the historical action of a community coming together to literally raise a barn, Barn Hammer hopes to help bring Winnipeggers together to help build up charities. One non-profit is chosen by staff each month and on the third Wednesday of that month, partial proceeds from every regular 16oz, 10oz glass and every growler fill (32oz & 64oz) sold in the taproom will be directly donated to the chosen non-profit organization.

I touched base with Barn Hammer’s Sable Birch for more details about where this idea came from and what the goal is. Sable made it clear it’s important all employees be involved in choosing causes that mean something to them.

“Everyone at Barn Hammer has the opportunity to participate and by changing the chosen charity each month, we are able to spread the funds out to various causes in the community. There are so many worthy causes out there so it’s nice to be able to reach as many as we can.”

Another aspect the team really likes about this program is that there is no middle-man. It’s Barn Hammer writing the cheque and sending it directly to the cause. This is a way for them to know the money is all going to the cause they are supporting. It’s really all about bringing community to join together in their taproom and help raise money for a worthy cause. Not only is it fun – bringing friends out for a pint of beer and conversation – but you get the opportunity to really do something and support something you care about.

Sable said that it’s not just about raising funds, but:

 “we are also helping to raise awareness for the causes. Increase traffic flow to their website or add followers to their social media accounts. Perhaps this way the non-profit also receives more volunteers, donations and attention outside of our Barn Raising Night.”

Obviously this fundraising won’t happen unless there are patrons who step up to support it. If you haven’t had the opportunity to get out to Barn Hammer’s taproom yet, make a plan to go there on the third Wednesday of the month to help raise funds and awareness for community causes.

Contest, General Post

Boobyball – Rethinking Breast Cancer

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Thanks to those who entered. A winner has been chosen. 

For those of you unfamiliar with this event or with the organization, Rethink Breast Cancer’s mission is to empower young people worldwide who are concerned about and affected by breast cancer.

This organization is the first ever Canadian charity to target those who are 40 and under in an effort to foster a new generation of young and influential breast cancer supporters; infuse sass and style into the cause; and, most importantly, respond to the unique needs of young women going through it.

By taking a breakthrough approach to all aspects of breast cancer – education, resources, advocacy, community engagement, and fundraising – Rethink is thinking differently about breast cancer. More information about them can be found at their website – www.rethinkbreastcancer.com

The event in question was founded in 2002 by a group of young women in support of their friend, Sarah O’Regan, who at 23 was diagnosed with an aggressive and advanced breast cancer. Boobyball is now one of the most anticipated, coveted and high profile fundraising events for young philanthropists in Ottawa, Calgary, Toronto and Winnipeg.

Over the past 14 years, this event has raised over 3.8 million dollars for Rethink Breast Cancer. This year the Ball is being held at the Fort Garry Hotel in downtown Winnipeg. The theme is “Paradise City” and encourages all those attending to “Shake their tail feathers” and to “dress in swinging jungle attire”. If you don’t know what that is, they have a pintrest page for inspiration.

“The 15th annual Boobyball fundraiser will immerse guests into the wild for an evening of electric sunsets, lush libations, majestic beats and tiki treats all entwined in the most sizzling soiree of the year!”

So, why am I writing about this? The good people at Beau’s All Natural Brewing have been incredibly generous to support this wonderful event here in Winnipeg and around the country.

They have given me two tickets to give away to this phenomenal event and I’m putting it out to you folks in the form of a contest. Either follow and retweet my tweet on Twitter or follow this blog and post a comment to be entered into the contest. I’ll be drawing for these very soon.

DETAILS: Boobyball presents Paradise City
DATE: October 22, 2016
TIME: 9:00PM – 1:30AM
LOCATION: The Fort Garry Hotel
222 Broadway
Winnipeg MB R3C 0R3