Minnesota breweries collaborate to help North Carolina brewery destroyed by hurricane
SPRING PARK, Minn. — Several Minnesota breweries are stepping up to help another brewery with deep ties to the state.
New Origin Brewing in Asheville, North Carolina, was destroyed during Hurricane Helene.
The storm's power dropped a 300-ton train and other debris where the brewery once stood.
Back Channel Brewing in Spring Park is one beermaker lending a helping hand to a competitor 1,000 miles away.
Dan Juhnke and Brian Fetting grew up outside Moorhead. The two founded New Origin five years ago.
"I just consider Dan a true friend, and one of the best brewers that I've ever been around," said Backchannel Brewing owner Josh Leddy. "When we heard of this situation, I mean instantly, it was 'Gosh, we've got to brew a beer in their honor.'"
That inspired Crunchy Tunes, a New England-style IPA beer collaboration with New Origin. With each beer sale, Leddy said New Origin will receive a cut of the profits.
"Because this is going to be an ongoing effort, probably for years to come for them," Leddy said.
The beer is actually a callback to a previous collaboration between the two breweries.
"Hopefully our small contribution can provide them something," Leddy said.
It's not just Back Channel — nearly a dozen Minnesota and North Dakota breweries are set to collaborate and donate profits.
"It's absolutely incredible. We're thoroughly moved by the efforts that the brewing community has put in," said Fetting, New Origin's co-founder and general manager.
According to Fetting, he's still hopeful New Origin can rebuild after the devastation. Their priority now is seeing what government assistance is available to help out with what remains to be a massive cleanup effort.
An online fundraiser has now raised more than $98,0000 for the brewery.
"It says a lot about how generous they are and how thoughtful they're being, despite struggles that I think everyone goes through to a degree," Fetting said.
Participating Breweries:
- Bemidji Brewing - "Jurassic Pulp IPA" - Bemidji, Minnesota
- Back Channel Brewing - "Crunchy Tunes IPA" Spring Park, Minnesota
- Junkyard Brewing Company - "Boss Battle IPA" Moorhead, Minnesota
- Sun Brewing – TBA, Bismarck, North Dakota
- Atypical Brewing – TBA, Minot, North Dakota
- Portage Brewing – TBA, Walker, Minnesota
- Drastic Measures Brewing – TBA, Wadena, Minnesota
- Lupulin Brewing – TBA, Big Lake, Minnesota
- Blackstack Brewing – TBA, St. Paul, Minnesota
- Klockow Brewing – TBA, Grand Rapids, Minnesota
- Dialectic Brewing – TBA, Mandan, North Dakota
Junkyard Brewing Company is hosting a Beer Release and Fundraiser party at the brewery's Moorhead taproom on Saturday, Dec. 28 starting at 4 p.m. A portion of Boss Battle sales during the event will be donated to New Origin's recovery efforts.