Half pints for a cause: Drinking to support emergency workers

Giving to a charity makes us feel good. Giving to a charity and being able to raise a glass of delicious craft beer to them is even better. If you are looking to support a local cause this month you can do just that at Bristol Beer Fest. Most of Bristol’s Fire Department, with the exception of four career positions, is volunteer. These trained volunteer front line workers are making sure that the nearly 23,000 residents of Bristol are receiving medical care and that the town is safe. 

100% of the proceeds from this beer fest will be donated to Bristol Fire Department Benevolent Association Charitable Trust and the renovation of Fireman’s Memorial Park. A memorial is planned to be erected there in memory of volunteer fire fighters and emergency medical personnel. 

This event is being held at Vigilant Brewery. All four breweries from Bristol will be there with at least 16 total different beers to sample. In addition, there will be food from George’s Grill and Moving Dough Wood Fired Pizza. There will be live music by East Bay Roots and Mischievous and Friends.

The Four breweries of Bristol are Pivotal Brewing, Six Pack Brewing, Twelve Guns Brewing and Vigilant Brewing Co., Both Six Pack and Twelve Guns are past winners in Motif’s Drink Awards. This year, Twelve Guns was nominated in four beer categories. Six Pack was nominated and won in four beer categories. Vigilant Brewing Co is the newest brewery of these four – they opened in June of this year. It is the only one I have not been to and I am excited to try some of their craft beers.

Mark Papi, owner and brewer of Six Pack, mentioned that there will be a variety of beer styles offered at this beer fest. “There won’t be just all IPAs to sample. We are all meeting up soon to make sure of this.”  Each brewery “will be bringing at least four beers to sample.”  The event is being held at Vigilant Brewing Co, 44 Ballou Blvd in Bristol on Oct 23 from 1:30 – 4:30pm. At the time this article was written there were 100 tickets left.

Tickets are being sold on EventBrite. $35 per person includes an eight ounce sample glass, unlimited craft beer pours from the four breweries, and a door prize raffle ticket. 

With the season of Thanksgiving upon us, I would like to extend my gratitude to the Bristol volunteer Firefighters and EMS workers, Cheers and thank you!