Kettleheads Seek To 'Brew Good, Do Good' With Homebrew Fest
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By David [email protected]
All proceeds from the event, which will be held at The Garden in Winona Lake, benefit Combined Community Services.
“Homebrew Fest is an opportunity to share our beers with the public and support a great cause at the same time,” said Jason Rich, Kettleheads president.
There will beers, ciders and meads. Member Aaron Winey said as of Thursday there were 14 brewers with at least 36 homebrews signed up, but that number will rise before the event.
“Most beers are going to be beers that have not been there at previous years’ fests,” Rich said.
“No one is big on bringing the same thing every year,” Winey agreed.
Kettleheads co-founder Daren Deffenbaugh said, “That reflects the nature of homebrewing as an inherently experimental hobby.”
Rich will be providing four different brews.
“I’ve made a chocolate coffee stout with beans from a local friend who roasts his own. And a few other beers with ingredients I just had to put together to see what would happen. And guess what? It made beer,” he said.
Deffenbaugh said he made a SMASH – or Single Malt And Single Hop. “It is an all-centennial hop beer, and my idea was to do that in honor of Indiana’s bicentennial.”
He said the malt is very subdued and the hops are prominent.
Member Michael McGuire said he’s bringing at least one or two potentials.
“The one that I am bringing is a stout. It’s a variation on the theme that I’ve done for the past five years. This one is brewed with organic coco nips and organic vanilla beans. It has smoked bacon in it, which gives it a roasted tobacco flavor,” he said.
His wife is bringing ciders and a variation on a light pale ale.
Winey said he’ll be providing four beers, and one is a sour that is almost 1-1/2 years old, brewed with tart cherries. That will be served during VIP time.
“The price of admission, which is a donation really, gets you a tasting glass and as many samples as you care to try,” Rich explained.
Tickets can be ordered in advance at homebrewfest.brownpapertickets.com and are $28 plus a small service fee. VIP tickets are $48. All ticket prices include the souvenir tasting glass.
“The important thing to remember is the price of admission is a true donation. The Kettleheads don’t keep any of it. We all volunteer our time and beers,” said Rich.
Rich added a person can visit the Kettleheads’ website, too, at kettleheads.org
There will be ticket sales at the door.
“Historically, there’s always been a lot at the gate, but if people look at last year’s lines, it’s a safer bet to pre-order because you know you’re getting in and getting a ticket,” McGuire suggested.
Winey said the lines this year will be streamlined. Combined Community Services Executive Director Steve Possell said not only will it be streamlined, but it all will be less confusing than previous years. The lines will be easier to get through and the tents will have better access.
There were only nine of the 50 VIP tickets left as of midday Thursday, Rich said. The VIP tickets get participants in at 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.
“And you get access to beers that may not be available the rest of the evening,” he said.
The event ends at 9 p.m., according to the ticket, but Rich said in 2015 the beer tasting didn’t end until about 9:30 p.m.
Only 450 general admission tickets are available.
Winey said a person doesn’t have to drink to attend. Designated drivers will get in free and will be given a different colored bracelet than those drinking.
Possell said money raised from the Homebrew Fest will be a big help to CCS.
“This year, because of some of the reduction in the United Way campaign, they were not able to raise as much money this year, we weren’t able to secure as much utility assistance money. So a lot of this actually is going to impact people who had their utilities shut off in the summer and the winter, but primarily in the winter,” Possell said. “Families with little kids ... might be able to continue to pay their bill so they don’t get any penalties or get shut off. So a lot of (the money raised) will be for that, and for general needs, but primarily it will go toward our Winter Warmth utility assistance.”
Rich said the event raised $9,000 in 2015. With the auction packages, another approximate $18,000 was raised, Possell estimated.
The auction packages available to bid on this year include:
• A Marco Island vacation, which includes dinner for six at the Marco Island Yacht Club and a six-night stay for six in a three-bedroom home on Marco Island for a week of holiday. The minimum bid is $8,000, but the package is valued at $12,000.
• A helicopter flight to Cerulean in Indianapolis. The helicopter will take four to and from Indianapolis where a dinner for four at Cerulean in the Circle City will be provided. Minimum bid is $3,000, and the package has a $6,000 value.
• Passes to Chicagoland Speedway Sept. 16 to 18. The package includes four VIP passes to Chicagoland Speedway for the first race of the 2016 NASCAR Chase for the Championship. Minimum bid is $1,000.
For more auction information or bidding, contact John Parker at 574-269-6019, Ext. 233, or [email protected]
People at the event will get to vote on their favorite drink. The brewer with the most votes gets the traveling trophy, which was won by McGuire in 2015.
“Everybody who gets a ticket gets a token. You get one vote. You can purchase extra votes at the door,” Winey said.
“There are bragging rights involved,” said Rich, and Possell noted that attendees actually get to talk to the people who brew the beer.
The money raised from the purchase of the extra votes also goes to CCS.
Sponsors of the 2016 Homebrew Fest include The Papers Inc., Silveus Insurance, The Dr. Dane and Mary Louise Miller Foundation, Cerulean Garden, Brewers Art Supply, The Kettleheads and Keen Parts.
“Our goal every year is to top the previous year,” Rich said. “So if you are at all thirsty, come Saturday evening, June 25, and help a very worthwhile charity.”
“We love talking to people about brewing,” Winey said, adding that he started brewing himself because of the Fest.
McGuire said it was more like an art festival than a beer festival because it’s “people creating art, it’s just liquid.”[[In-content Ad]]
All proceeds from the event, which will be held at The Garden in Winona Lake, benefit Combined Community Services.
“Homebrew Fest is an opportunity to share our beers with the public and support a great cause at the same time,” said Jason Rich, Kettleheads president.
There will beers, ciders and meads. Member Aaron Winey said as of Thursday there were 14 brewers with at least 36 homebrews signed up, but that number will rise before the event.
“Most beers are going to be beers that have not been there at previous years’ fests,” Rich said.
“No one is big on bringing the same thing every year,” Winey agreed.
Kettleheads co-founder Daren Deffenbaugh said, “That reflects the nature of homebrewing as an inherently experimental hobby.”
Rich will be providing four different brews.
“I’ve made a chocolate coffee stout with beans from a local friend who roasts his own. And a few other beers with ingredients I just had to put together to see what would happen. And guess what? It made beer,” he said.
Deffenbaugh said he made a SMASH – or Single Malt And Single Hop. “It is an all-centennial hop beer, and my idea was to do that in honor of Indiana’s bicentennial.”
He said the malt is very subdued and the hops are prominent.
Member Michael McGuire said he’s bringing at least one or two potentials.
“The one that I am bringing is a stout. It’s a variation on the theme that I’ve done for the past five years. This one is brewed with organic coco nips and organic vanilla beans. It has smoked bacon in it, which gives it a roasted tobacco flavor,” he said.
His wife is bringing ciders and a variation on a light pale ale.
Winey said he’ll be providing four beers, and one is a sour that is almost 1-1/2 years old, brewed with tart cherries. That will be served during VIP time.
“The price of admission, which is a donation really, gets you a tasting glass and as many samples as you care to try,” Rich explained.
Tickets can be ordered in advance at homebrewfest.brownpapertickets.com and are $28 plus a small service fee. VIP tickets are $48. All ticket prices include the souvenir tasting glass.
“The important thing to remember is the price of admission is a true donation. The Kettleheads don’t keep any of it. We all volunteer our time and beers,” said Rich.
Rich added a person can visit the Kettleheads’ website, too, at kettleheads.org
There will be ticket sales at the door.
“Historically, there’s always been a lot at the gate, but if people look at last year’s lines, it’s a safer bet to pre-order because you know you’re getting in and getting a ticket,” McGuire suggested.
Winey said the lines this year will be streamlined. Combined Community Services Executive Director Steve Possell said not only will it be streamlined, but it all will be less confusing than previous years. The lines will be easier to get through and the tents will have better access.
There were only nine of the 50 VIP tickets left as of midday Thursday, Rich said. The VIP tickets get participants in at 5 p.m. instead of 6 p.m.
“And you get access to beers that may not be available the rest of the evening,” he said.
The event ends at 9 p.m., according to the ticket, but Rich said in 2015 the beer tasting didn’t end until about 9:30 p.m.
Only 450 general admission tickets are available.
Winey said a person doesn’t have to drink to attend. Designated drivers will get in free and will be given a different colored bracelet than those drinking.
Possell said money raised from the Homebrew Fest will be a big help to CCS.
“This year, because of some of the reduction in the United Way campaign, they were not able to raise as much money this year, we weren’t able to secure as much utility assistance money. So a lot of this actually is going to impact people who had their utilities shut off in the summer and the winter, but primarily in the winter,” Possell said. “Families with little kids ... might be able to continue to pay their bill so they don’t get any penalties or get shut off. So a lot of (the money raised) will be for that, and for general needs, but primarily it will go toward our Winter Warmth utility assistance.”
Rich said the event raised $9,000 in 2015. With the auction packages, another approximate $18,000 was raised, Possell estimated.
The auction packages available to bid on this year include:
• A Marco Island vacation, which includes dinner for six at the Marco Island Yacht Club and a six-night stay for six in a three-bedroom home on Marco Island for a week of holiday. The minimum bid is $8,000, but the package is valued at $12,000.
• A helicopter flight to Cerulean in Indianapolis. The helicopter will take four to and from Indianapolis where a dinner for four at Cerulean in the Circle City will be provided. Minimum bid is $3,000, and the package has a $6,000 value.
• Passes to Chicagoland Speedway Sept. 16 to 18. The package includes four VIP passes to Chicagoland Speedway for the first race of the 2016 NASCAR Chase for the Championship. Minimum bid is $1,000.
For more auction information or bidding, contact John Parker at 574-269-6019, Ext. 233, or [email protected]
People at the event will get to vote on their favorite drink. The brewer with the most votes gets the traveling trophy, which was won by McGuire in 2015.
“Everybody who gets a ticket gets a token. You get one vote. You can purchase extra votes at the door,” Winey said.
“There are bragging rights involved,” said Rich, and Possell noted that attendees actually get to talk to the people who brew the beer.
The money raised from the purchase of the extra votes also goes to CCS.
Sponsors of the 2016 Homebrew Fest include The Papers Inc., Silveus Insurance, The Dr. Dane and Mary Louise Miller Foundation, Cerulean Garden, Brewers Art Supply, The Kettleheads and Keen Parts.
“Our goal every year is to top the previous year,” Rich said. “So if you are at all thirsty, come Saturday evening, June 25, and help a very worthwhile charity.”
“We love talking to people about brewing,” Winey said, adding that he started brewing himself because of the Fest.
McGuire said it was more like an art festival than a beer festival because it’s “people creating art, it’s just liquid.”[[In-content Ad]]
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