The Cleveland Brew Bus is booked solid with tours that introduce beer lovers from all over the region to some of Cleveland’s best breweries. Run by Leslie Basalla and Brian McCafferty, the local outfit is a valuable link in the chain when it comes to supporting out local craft beer economy.
So when the Brew Bus was broken into right before the Fourth of July weekend, local breweries immediately began planning an event to offer some financial relief.
“They came in with a tour and told us the story,” explains Janet Hall of Fat Head’s Brewery and Tap House in Middleburg Heights. “They are really good supporters of ours so we came up with the idea to do a fundraiser.”
To be held from 6 to 9 p.m. on Wednesday, July 22 at the Fat Head’s taproom at the production brewery, the event is an informal way to get together and support a great local company. There will be nine area breweries on hand pouring draft beers, much of which has been donated for the cause. All proceeds from beer sales, as well as a Chinese raffle for loads of beer and brewery swag, will go to repairing and improving the Brew Bus.
On hand will be reps from Great Lakes, Market Garden, Nano Brew, Brew Kettle, BottleHouse, Platform, Corner Stone, Buckeye, and Brick & Barrel.
Owner Leslie Basalla is tickled by all the support, but she’s not at all surprised by it.
“The people in the Cleveland craft brewing community are some of the kindest and most generous I've ever encountered,” she says. “It means so much to me to know that they see Cleveland Brew Bus as a valuable part of the scene, and something worth supporting. It was incredibly heartening to see so many breweries unhesitatingly offer beer and merchandise for this event to help us out.”
See you there.
