Breweries pledge $25,000 in seed money for 2001 celebration

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A $25,000 pledge from Boston Beer Co. and Rogue Ales has jump-started the fundraising efforts for the second annual American Beer Month to be held in July 2001. The pledge was announced Saturday at the Great American Beer Festival and quickly followed by two $1,000 donations.

Larry Bell

Organized by the Institute for Brewing Studies, American Beer Month is a promotion which celebrates the heritage, diversity and exciting future of American beers. American Beer Month is designed to educate consumers and retailers about the refreshing, flavorful beers from a wide range of large, medium and small breweries, microbreweries and restaurant-breweries in every region of the country.

"Today, American brewers are making world class beers that rank among the world's best," said Jim Koch, brewer and founder of Boston Beer Co., brewer of Samuel Adams beer. "The days when American beer drinkers could only get rich, flavorful beers from imports are over. The celebration of American Beer Month is the celebration of the quality, variety and wonder of American beer today."

Larry Bell, an IBS board member and president of Kalamazoo (Mich.) Brewing Co., then told those gathered at the GABF that his brewery and Wynkoop Brewing Co. of Denver would contribute $1,000 each to the effort. He also challenged brewers across the nation to add their own contributions.

Bell can be contacted at larrybell@bellsbeer.com.

The first American Beer Month began July 1 with festivals and events across the country. Nearly 100 brewers gathered in Philadelphia to kick off the event in style. Similar and more events are planned in 2001.

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