Each year since 2013 the Ales for ALS campaign sees dozens of breweries across the nation brew beers to support ALS research. This year the list even includes a couple of breweries outside the USA: one in Japan and the other in Germany. In all, about 170 breweries are involved this year. To date, Ales for ALS has raised over $1.5 million for the cause.
Here’s a basic rundown of how it works. A unique, blended hop variety is made available to participating breweries. The breweries create a beer and donate $1 for every pint sold. Simple.
This year the list of Washington’s participants includes Bale Breaker Brewing, Dog Days Brewing, The Ram (various locations), Iron Horse Brewery, Triplehorn Brewing, Reuben’s Brews, Varietal Beer Company, Waddell’s Brewpub,
Perhaps no brewery is more tightly and personally connected to the effort than Bale Breaker Brewing. Mike and Cheryl Smith, who’s children own Bale Breaker Brewing, founded the Ales for ALS campaign in 2013. So while dozens and dozens of other breweries are creating beers and hosting events, I’d like to share some details about what Bale Breaker Brewing has going on for Ales for ALS this year, in their own words. For Bale Breaker Brewing in particular, this is a big deal.
Bale Breaker Brewing Company part of national Ales for ALS™ campaign, with local events planned July 14 and July 27, 2018
Founded by Mike & Cheryl Smith of Yakima in 2013, the Ales for ALS™ program has now raised over $1,750,000 for ALS research at the ALS Therapy Development Institute. Participating Ales for ALS™ brewers receive a unique hop blend, created and donated annually by Loftus Ranches and YCH Hops. Ales for ALS™ brewers donate $1 to the ALS Therapy Development Institute for each pint of the result- ing Ales for ALS™ brew sold. The funds raised are spent immediately on their mission to discover and develop effective treatments for ALS.
Now in its sixth year, Ales for ALS™ is a national fundraising and awareness campaign that was developed in Yakima and has raised $1.65 million to date for ALS research. A Yakima Valley fundraising event and a golf tournament are hosted by Bale Breaker Brewing Company, one of eight participating Washington breweries.
Loftus Ranches and YCH Hops created Ales for ALS™ in 2012 to support a very worthy cause – ALS research. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, Lou Gehrig’s disease) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that leads to paralysis, due to the death of motor neurons in the spinal cord and brain.
Bale Breaker and the other 170 participating breweries across the country (and one each in Germany and Japan!) have access to a unique proprietary Ales for ALS™ hop blend. This year’s blend is composed of 40% Ekuanot®, 15% HBC 438, 15% HBC 344, 10% Simcoe®, 10% Loral®, 5% HBC 630, and 5% HBC 520. There is no charge to brewers for this amazing hop blend. Ales for ALS™ brewers agree to donate $1 to the ALS Therapy Development Institute for each pint of the resulting Ales for ALS™ brew sold. The funds raised are spent immediately on its mission to discover and develop effective treatments for ALS.
ABOUT THE ALES FOR ALS™ FUNDRAISING EVENT – July 14, 2018
On July 14, Noon-9pm, everyone is invited to the Bale Breaker lawn to enjoy great beer, food, and games at this free & family-friendly event. Check out live music by The Shreds and food by Chronic Foods, Hop Town Pizza and Kim’s Got Smoke BBQ. Bale Breaker donates $1 from ANY pint sold that day to ALS TDI, the research organization dedicated to ending ALS.
BEER: Bale Breaker used the Ales for ALS™ hop blend to create Bubba’s Brew Hazy IPA and Double Bubba Imperial IPA. Both beers will debut at the Fundraising Event at the brewery. After the event, Bale Breaker continues to donate $1 to the ALS Therapy Development Institute for each pint of Bubba’s Brew and Double Bubba sold.
NEW THIS YEAR! glassybaby, the seattle-based artisan glassblowing company, will be hosting a pop up shop from Noon-5:00pm at the event. 10% of all glassybaby sales at this event will be donated to ALS TDI. Can’t make it? From July 14- July 21, enter giving code ‘als’ and 10% of your online order will be donated to ALS TDI.
ABOUT BIRDIES FOR BUBBA – July 27, 2018
https://www.birdiesforbubba.com/
Join Bale Breaker at River Ridge Golf Course for the 3rd Annual Birdies for Bubba Golf Tournament on Friday July 27. Part of our Ales for ALS™ fundraising efforts, this is a great way to spend a Friday! Our 9-hole two-person scramble tourney at River Ridge Golf Course includes prizes for KP’s, fun side games on every hole, putting contest, food specials from River Ridge, and local craft brews. Single players $60, Teams $120 and 100% of proceeds go directly to ALS TDI. 1:00pm Shotgun start at River Ridge. All ages welcome to visit the Spectator Green for yard games and music where you can enjoy the sun and fun.
Special thanks to Title Sponsors Morgan Stanley, Fieldstone Communities and Crafted Eatery & Bar and Albatross Sponsors Poppoff Concrete and PayneWest Insurance.
ABOUT BALE BREAKER BREWING CO. Bale Breaker Brewing Company makes handcrafted ales that showcase the world-class hops grown in the heart the Yakima Valley. Hops are in the family’s DNA: the great-grandparents of sibling-owners Meghann Quinn, Kevin Smith, and Patrick Smith first planted hops in the Yakima Valley in 1932, the year before Prohibition ended. Over four generations, their love of hops has evolved into a passion for craft beer. Today, Meghann, Kevin and Patrick are in the midst of running an independent production brewery surrounded by their family’s hop fields, just down the road from where they were born and raised. www.balebreaker.com
ABOUT THE ALS THERAPY DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE The ALS Therapy Development Institute and its scientists actively discover and develop treatments for ALS. It is the world’s first and largest nonprofit biotech focused 100 percent on ALS research. Led by people with ALS and drug development experts, it understands the urgent need to slow and stop this disease. As the world’s foremost drug discovery center focused solely on ALS, ALS TDI spends 87% of every dollar raised on research to find effective treatments and cures. Its innovative science and cutting edge approach have resulted in the identification of AT-1501, a promising treatment for ALS. It also pioneered the ALS Precision Medicine Program, the world’s premier program and partnership with ALS patients to discover additional potential treatments. www.als.net