In the wake of the horrific Northern California wildfires that decimated parts of Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino counties, some of the region’s breweries are doing something about it, helping to raise money to help people who have been affected by this still-unfolding tragedy. And they’re offering a potent incentive to donors who join the effort: Pliny the Younger line-cutting privileges.

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California wildfires: Firefighter killed battling blaze sparked by gender-reveal party Two years ago, Russian River Brewing‘s Vinnie Cilurzo created a Sonoma Pride beer series with two releases, Amasa and Dauenhauer, so far. This year’s beer is simply called Sonoma Pride and 100 percent of the proceeds from the sale of this beer, he says, will be donated directly to fire relief fundraising efforts. The brewery is working with the King Ridge Foundation on the project. The new Sonoma Pride beer will be released Oct. 31 at the brewery and select retail outlets.

The brewery is also accepting direct donations on the Sonoma Pride website and has launched what may well be the best incentive ever: For every $25 donated, Cilurzo says, “you’ll be entered into one or more chances to win line-cutting privileges to the 2018 Pliny the Younger release at Russian River Brewery.”



There’s more: At Bear Republic Brewing, where several staff members, including head brewer Rob Kent, have lost their homes, the brewery is joining the Sonoma Pride effort. In a prepared statement, the brewery staff announced it was “proud to be joining forces with Russian River Brewing and the King Ridge Foundation, and will be brewing a Bear Republic version for the Sonoma Pride release. We are a little late to this effort because our starships are running on impulse power. We are currently working on additional collaborations to be brewed with other Sonoma County breweries to support the victims and firefighters of the 2017 Sonoma County wildfires.”

Bear Republic plans to supply ingredients and manpower to St. Florian’s Brewery and a similar collaboration is in the works with 101 North Brewing to support Cardinal Newman High School, where the brewmasters of both Bear Republic and 101 North went to school. And for the next month, 50 cents on every Bear Republic case sold will be donated to help fire victims. The brewery is hoping to enlist matching funds from their wholesalers and distributors, as well.

Meanwhile, Derek Drennan and Robert Raney, owners of Sonoma Springs Brewing Co., plan to brew a beer under the Sonoma Pride label in the coming weeks and donate the proceeds to local relief charities. Sonoma Springs’ third annual celebration of local firefighters — a new release of Sottile Double Red Ale, which honors and raises funds for the Sonoma Firefighters Association — is scheduled for Nov. 4 or 11, depending, the owners say, “on when we can get brewing again.”



In addition, HenHouse Brewing has been announcing collaborations and special brews on its Facebook page and raising money through the Redwood Credit Union. Find more details at North Bay Fire Relief.

Meanwhile, of course, you can support Sonoma, Napa and Mendocino county breweries by purchasing their beer at bars, restaurants and stores wherever you live.