Homebrew Fest Raises Much-Need Money For CCS
September 3, 2021 at 11:27 p.m.
Homebrew Fest Raises Much-Need Money For CCS
By David [email protected]
In its 10th year, the beer-tasting event that raises money for Combined Community Services will be combined with the Taste of Kosciusko.
Jason Rich, president of the Kettleheads, said Homebrew Fest was originally conceived “to be a way to show the community our skills as brewers and to contribute to a great charity at the same time. We wanted to use our passion for brewing to benefit those with a passion for helping other people.”
While the event could not be held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, past Homebrew Fests were held at Cerulean in Winona Lake.
“This year, we were approached by the (Kosciusko) Chamber to have an event downtown Warsaw as part of the Taste of Kosciusko,” Rich said.
Homebrew Fest is 4 to 8 p.m. Sept. 11 on Buffalo Street between Main and Center streets. Prepurchased tickets are $35 each at kettleheads.org/homebrewfest2021, and tickets are $40 if purchased at the gate. You must be 21 or older to enter.
“I want to stress that all the admission price goes to charity. We can’t keep any of it,” Rich said. “So what you pay for admission, you are really donating to help others.”
Randy Polston, CCS executive director, said the Kosciusko Kettleheads have supported CCS for 11 years in a row with their “Brew good, Do good” model. Each year is special, he said, but this year is special.
“This year, the United Way is going through a transitional period and they’ve said the funds may be decreasing to nonprofits,” Polston said. Kettleheads wanting to support CCS again this year came as a blessing, he said.
“When we got the news that United Way is restructuring and there may be less money, I got the team together and told them God will provide,” Polston recalled. Not too long after that, Rich contacted him and said the Kettleheads wanted to support CCS again this year.
The funding raised through Homebrew Fest will support CCS’s food and clothing pantries, self-sufficiency program and some operations.
“We can’t thank Jason and Kosciusko Kettleheads enough,” Polston said.
There will be up to 48 different beers and ciders at the 2021 Homebrew Fest.
“We have, as usual, a giant range of different offerings. If you like IPAs, there will be about a dozen. If you like stouts, there will be a lot. If you like cider, there will be plenty. If want a jellybean beer, a smoked beer, a sour beer, a fruit beer or a bourbon beer, they will all be there. And that’s just the start,” Rich stated.
Homebrew Fest will be in a tent separate, but near, Taste of Kosciusko. Taste of Kosciusko is free entry. Purchased food tasting tickets at the event are $1 each.
“Patrons will be able to leave the tent, try some food and then re-enter the tent,” Rich said. The beer has to stay in the tent. “I would highly recommend taking a food break. And, as always, make sure you have arrangements to get home.”
Each brewer will have tip jars at their area that people can put money in. Whoever’s beers collects the most money at the end of the night will get bragging rights for the next year. All the tip money will go to CCS.
Rich said Kettleheads raised over $60,000 for local charities since Kettleheads was formed in 2010.
“It’s going to be a beautiful night. What better way to contribute to a good cause than sampling the best beers your neighbors have to offer,” Rich said.
Polston said, “I’ve said this before, but it truly does take a village to raise a child. CCS can’t continue to impact the community without the support of the community and people like Jason Rich.”
He gave a “big thank you” to the community, saying, “They are truly making a difference.”
For more information about Homebrew Fest or Taste of Kosciusko, visit kettleheads.org or www.kchamber.com.
In its 10th year, the beer-tasting event that raises money for Combined Community Services will be combined with the Taste of Kosciusko.
Jason Rich, president of the Kettleheads, said Homebrew Fest was originally conceived “to be a way to show the community our skills as brewers and to contribute to a great charity at the same time. We wanted to use our passion for brewing to benefit those with a passion for helping other people.”
While the event could not be held in 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, past Homebrew Fests were held at Cerulean in Winona Lake.
“This year, we were approached by the (Kosciusko) Chamber to have an event downtown Warsaw as part of the Taste of Kosciusko,” Rich said.
Homebrew Fest is 4 to 8 p.m. Sept. 11 on Buffalo Street between Main and Center streets. Prepurchased tickets are $35 each at kettleheads.org/homebrewfest2021, and tickets are $40 if purchased at the gate. You must be 21 or older to enter.
“I want to stress that all the admission price goes to charity. We can’t keep any of it,” Rich said. “So what you pay for admission, you are really donating to help others.”
Randy Polston, CCS executive director, said the Kosciusko Kettleheads have supported CCS for 11 years in a row with their “Brew good, Do good” model. Each year is special, he said, but this year is special.
“This year, the United Way is going through a transitional period and they’ve said the funds may be decreasing to nonprofits,” Polston said. Kettleheads wanting to support CCS again this year came as a blessing, he said.
“When we got the news that United Way is restructuring and there may be less money, I got the team together and told them God will provide,” Polston recalled. Not too long after that, Rich contacted him and said the Kettleheads wanted to support CCS again this year.
The funding raised through Homebrew Fest will support CCS’s food and clothing pantries, self-sufficiency program and some operations.
“We can’t thank Jason and Kosciusko Kettleheads enough,” Polston said.
There will be up to 48 different beers and ciders at the 2021 Homebrew Fest.
“We have, as usual, a giant range of different offerings. If you like IPAs, there will be about a dozen. If you like stouts, there will be a lot. If you like cider, there will be plenty. If want a jellybean beer, a smoked beer, a sour beer, a fruit beer or a bourbon beer, they will all be there. And that’s just the start,” Rich stated.
Homebrew Fest will be in a tent separate, but near, Taste of Kosciusko. Taste of Kosciusko is free entry. Purchased food tasting tickets at the event are $1 each.
“Patrons will be able to leave the tent, try some food and then re-enter the tent,” Rich said. The beer has to stay in the tent. “I would highly recommend taking a food break. And, as always, make sure you have arrangements to get home.”
Each brewer will have tip jars at their area that people can put money in. Whoever’s beers collects the most money at the end of the night will get bragging rights for the next year. All the tip money will go to CCS.
Rich said Kettleheads raised over $60,000 for local charities since Kettleheads was formed in 2010.
“It’s going to be a beautiful night. What better way to contribute to a good cause than sampling the best beers your neighbors have to offer,” Rich said.
Polston said, “I’ve said this before, but it truly does take a village to raise a child. CCS can’t continue to impact the community without the support of the community and people like Jason Rich.”
He gave a “big thank you” to the community, saying, “They are truly making a difference.”
For more information about Homebrew Fest or Taste of Kosciusko, visit kettleheads.org or www.kchamber.com.
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