If you listen very closely, you can almost hear the sounds of Oompah music.
We raise our pints to Canada’s Beau’s All Natural Brewing and its fifth annual Oktoberfest, the craft brewery’s signature fundraising event, which raised more than $75,000 this past weekend in Vankleek Hill, bringing the five year total raised to $242,000. The event was attended by more than 12,000 revelers during the two-day celebration of Bavarian culture, craft beer, independent music, artisan food and community support.
The charities benefiting from the 2013 edition of the event follow past years’ selections of organizations that fit Beau’s ethics of environmental, social and local community. This year’s charities included:
- Canadian Canoe Foundation — Develops watershed-health education projects that culminate in youth leadership canoe trips;
- United Way Ottawa — Improve lives and build community by engaging individuals and mobilizing collective action;
- Kiva — Connects people through lending to alleviate poverty;
- Just Food — Works towards building a vibrant, just and sustainable food system in the Ottawa region;
- Rethink Breast Cancer — Supports young adults concerned about or affected by breast cancer though education and research;
- Ottawa Community Skateboard Association — Works to build more efficiently designed skateboard parks;
- Vankleek Hill Cougars — Junior ice hockey team based in Vankleek Hill; and
- Vankleek Hill Agricultural Society — Supports and promotes the local farming community.
“The Canadian Canoe Foundation is thrilled to be the recipient of a $25,000 dollar donation from Beau’s Brewery,” stated Patrick Henry, founder and president of the Canadian Canoe Foundation. “This generous support will be directed to our 2014 National Paddling Week contest, which will see one youth from each of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories join us on a seven-day environmental education canoe trip adventure. Special guest on the trip? Kathleen Edwards! A big thanks to Beau’s.”
Beau’s co-founders Tim and Steve Beauchesne were also recognized with a surprise award this weekend from the United Way. The Community Builder Award recognized Beau’s as “helping to build a stronger, healthier and safer community for all of us.” In addition to the award, Beau’s will be added to the Wall of Inspiration located in Ottawa City Hall. The Wall of Inspiration is described as being a visible reminder to residents and visitors of the enduring commitment that individuals and organizations have made to Ottawa.
“Beer tastes best when you can feel good about drinking it,” shared Beau’s Co-Founder Steve Beauchesne. “I love that our little brewery has such generous and enthusiastic fans and that we can help our community by throwing a party.”
Evening entertainment at Oktoberfest featured award-winning and renowned independent artists Walter Ostanek, Kathleen Edwards, Sloan, The Sadies, Young Rival, The Mahones, The Balconies, and Rich Aucoin. Bavarian and seasonally inspired creations were also available from more than 20 Ontario restaurants, while activities like the stein-hold struggle and spouse-carrying race tested attendees’ endurance and strength.
The Members of Barleyment and Beau’s Homebrew Competition received an unprecedented 182 entries from across Canada. Jared Carlberg of Winnipeg, Manitoba was the winner of the Judge’s Choice with his “Goat of Mendes” Doppelbock, and has won the grand prize of brewing a full-sized batch of beer at Beau’s. The People’s Choice winner was Joe Rancourt with his “Death Dealer” Rye IPA.
Beau’s 2013 Oktoberfest by the numbers:
$75,000: Amount of dollars raised for charity
$300,000: Amount spent on local businesses for Oktoberfest goods and services
66,000: Number of glasses of beer served
12,000: Number of attendees
400: Number of kegs tapped
55: Number of casks sampled
17: Number of people submerged in dunk tank of beer
1: Number of wedding ceremonies performed
