Bridge Brewing Company, in collaboration with the District of North Vancouver Fire Fighters Charitable Society, has created a new limited-edition charity beer where a portion of the funds from the beers sold will be going toward the society’s latest cause, Buddy Check for Jesse – a youth-focused non-profit organization helping to change the conversation around mental health in youth.
“One of our members is good friends with the brewer there and we just had a discussion on whether it would be something good to do in the summer, and he was super keen to do a beer in collaboration with us,” said Aaron Hoverd, vice president of the DNV Fire Fighters Charitable Society about teaming up with a brewery for the first time.
“It’s a great cause,” said David Brown, director of sales for Bridge Brewing Company. “It just seemed like a no-brainer for us to team up with them and help get their message out, and also help them make a good beer but also help raise some money at the same time.
“What I love about them is that they cover so much and they give to so many different things,” he said. “They’re always looking for where the money’s needed.”
The charity brew is a balanced, dry-hopped blonde ale with fruity notes from Citra and Sorachi Ace hops.
“It’s really crisp, really clear, and really, really drinkable,” Brown said. “It’s five per cent and just a very approachable beer. “We wanted to make sure that it was something people could drink a lot of.” “It supports the local brewer and local mental health initiatives across the North Shore,” Hoverd said.
The Buddy Check program was started by B.C. father Dr. Stu Gershman in memory of his son Jesse Anders Short-Gershman, an intelligent young man who struggled with his mental health and took his own life at the age of 22.
“We’ve just started the program with sports teams and youth on the North Shore and having mental health talks with them”.
The DNV Firefighters Charitable Society is made up of approx. 130 dedicated firefighters and fire service staff who volunteer their time and resources to support North Shore charities and causes.
The limited-edition charity brew can be purchased at one of Bridge Brewing’s two locations in North Vancouver, making it easy to get the four-packs of the limited-edition beers. It is also available on tap where every $1 from every pour goes towards the society and available at liquor stores across the North Shore and Metro Vancouver.
Photos courtesy of Bridge Brewing Company