Breweries Rally Around #ReliefBeers for Hurricane Harvey Victims

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saint arnold relief beers
Houston's Saint Arnold rallies brewers for #ReliefBeers for Harvey flood victims.

As meteorologists and cable news stations turn their attention toward the looming threat of Hurricane Irma, waterlogged neighborhoods and businesses in Southeast Texas are still struggling after Hurricane Harvey. It’s been a week and a half since the storm hit, but “Everyone is a little shellshocked,” says Brock Wagner, founder of Saint Arnold Brewing in Houston.

When you look at Harvey by the numbers, it’s no surprise Houston and surrounding communities are still sorting through the mess. Harvey dumped an estimated 27 trillion gallons of rain over Texas and Louisiana. That’s enough water to fill the Houston Astrodome 85,000 times, according to CNN’s Jim Sciutto. Recovery will take years.

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In the days immediately after the storm, breweries across the country announced fundraisers and other efforts for Harvey relief. Now, Wagner is organizing a new streamlined fundraiser called #ReliefBeers. On Friday, Sept. 8, participating bars and restaurants will donate $1 per pint to the Houston Food Bank. The organization has been key in getting food to shelters and other flood victims.

Wagner says #ReliefBeers was born out of dozens of messages he fielded from breweries asking how they can help.

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“We’ve been overwhelmed by the messages of support we have received from the craft brewing community,” Wagner says. “Many have approached us about ways to raise funds for those affected along the Texas Gulf Coast. To that end, we have come up with #ReliefBeers.”

You can check out the list of participating breweries on the #ReliefBeers website. The list grew from four to 25 in less than two hours Wednesday morning, and that number is expected to grow. Check back to see which breweries near you are part of the effort.

Jess Baker walked into a beer fest in 2010 and realized beer had come a long way from what her dad had been drinking since the 70s. She served as editor-in-chief of CraftBeer.com from spring 2016 to spring 2020, bringing you stories about the people who are the heartbeat behind U.S. craft brewing. She's a runner, a die-hard Springsteen fan, a mom who is always scouting family-friendly breweries, and always in search of a darn good porter.