NC Craft brewers mobilize to support Western North Carolina

Press release N.C. Craft Brewers Guild:

Raleigh, NC – When hardship hits the craft beer industry, the tight-knit community of breweries is known for rallying in support.  And, when the devastation strikes Western North Carolina (WNC), an area long known as foundational for NC craft beer, the support is overwhelming.

Within the first 48 hours following the impact of Hurricane Helene, as images of the devastation began to roll in, breweries across North Carolina leapt into action, serving as their community’s relief collection points, and packaging water within their production facilities to transport west. Along with them, the NC Craft Brewers Guild commenced work to coordinate WNC relief efforts on behalf of the state’s craft beer industry.

“This is going to be a marathon, and we’re going to need everyone’s endurance to rebuild. But, NC craft beer is resilient, and together, brewery by brewery, we can provide critical relief to our WNC community.”, said Lisa Parker, Executive Director of the NC Craft Brewers Guild,

With 120 breweries located in FEMA designated NC counties, this week, the NC Craft Brewers Guild launched the following relief initiatives to support the mountain breweries and communities devastated by Helene:

Pouring for Neighbors: Craft Beer Relief Effort

One of the central components of the Guild’s relief efforts is the Pouring for Neighbors fundraising initiative. Breweries and craft beer retailers nationwide are invited to designate one of their beers on tap as a Pouring for Neighbors beer, with proceeds from pints sold going directly to the North Carolina Disaster Relief Fund, or a relief organization of their choice. Funds raised will help provide immediate assistance to those affected by the storm, including food, water, and emergency supplies.

Pouring for Neighbors represents the collaborative spirit of the craft beer industry, allowing breweries from all regions to stand in solidarity with their Western NC counterparts. Participating breweries and craft beer retailers will receive a marketing toolkit and press materials to help promote the cause and maximize impact. Breweries and craft beer retailers can enroll and find more information at drinkncbeer.org/pouring-for-neighbors.

NC Beer for WNC Hurricane Helene Relief

In addition to Pouring for Neighbors, the NC Craft Brewers Guild has implemented the following resources to support WNC communities impacted by the storm:

• Supply Transport & Collection: NC breweries statewide are collecting water and supplies for transport into WNC. The Guild has established resources to assist with the logistics of transport in order to ensure the safety of the industry’s supply efforts.
• Relief Efforts and Donation: For those wishing to support the relief efforts underway in WNC, you can find a listing of brewery locations accepting water and supply donations, as well as a listing of relief organizations accepting donations, at “NC Beer Helene – Donate+Volunteer”
• Helene Relief Resource Page: For those seeking relief and support information, the Guild has created a dedicated resource page at DrinkNCBeer.org which will be continuously updated as more information becomes available. Resources include FEMA information, guidance on unemployment benefits, TTB disaster filing, and links to report missing people or request a welfare check.
• State Advocacy: The Guild looks forward to working with our state agencies and legislative offices to provide input towards an emergency aid package that supports WNC breweries and the broader hospitality industry with a long-term recovery effort.

The NC Craft Brewers Guild believes that, together, the brewing community can help Western North Carolina rebuild—pint by pint. For updates on the Guild’s efforts and ways to get involved, please visit DrinkNCBeer.org/helene-resources.