Breweries in Juneau and Haines raised more than $18,000 in donations for Haines storm relief, an amount that will be doubled by Alaska’s Rasmuson Foundation.
The money will go into a Chilkat Valley Community Foundation endowment fund.
“We are so thankful for the Juneau brewers who ‘poured the love’ for Haines this past month. The generosity of the breweries and those who participated in the event, including our very own Haines Brewing Company, is heartwarming and so very much appreciated,” said community foundation chair Liz Heywood.
Four Juneau breweries–Alaskan Brewing Company, Barnaby Brewing Company, Devil’s Club Brewing Company and Forbidden Peak Brewery–participated in the effort, selling $30 “passports” that gave participants the opportunity to try four specialty beers–one from each taproom.
The Juneau brewers said they feel a connection to Haines as the host of the beloved Great Alaska Craft Beer and Home Brew Festival.
“Coming up with a way to help and have it involve the whole beer community from Juneau felt like a useful way to approach giving assistance,” said Evan Wood of Devil’s Club Brewing.
Customers were invited to turn in “completed” passports to receive a t-shirt designed by Haines-raised artists Celia Bower and Tulsi Zahnow. The artwork showed beer being poured from the Seven Sisters mountains in Juneau to a thirsty salmon and through fireweed, hops plants and forget-me-nots to become the Chilkat River, highlighting the way beer links the two communities.
The original goal for the fundraiser, which ran Feb. 12 through March 13, was $5,000. But thanks to support from Alaska and beyond, sales of Pour the Love passports and t-shirts far exceeded expectations, organizers said.