Michiana Festival of Beers gives back to local charities

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The annual craft beer sampling festival, Michiana Festival of Beers, took place at Four Winds Field today, donating all profits to Resale to the Rescue.

The Michiana Festival of Beers featured over 30 breweries, cideries, meaderies, including local Bare Hands Brewery out of Granger. 

Midwest breweries Final Gravity Brewing Co. from Decatur, Mich. and Revolution Brewing from Chicago, Ill. were also there. 

The festival reached beer fans of all demographics--from baby boomers and Gen Xers to Millennials and Gen-Z.

Frank Squadroni, a board member of Michiana Festival of Beers, visited the ABC57 studio this morning and brought a unique selection including Blueberry Breakfast Dead Forever's Imperial Stout.

The festival, originating in May of 2017, has grown exponentially, with over 900+ people expected to attend. 

Attendees received a commemorative 5 oz. sampling mug to visit the local brewery booths with and also enjoyed music by Tongue Tied and food from local food trucks. 

The event was coordinated by MEGA (Michiana Extract and Grain Association), a local homebrew club, who are as passionate about beer craft culture and endeavor to use their exposure in support of local charities.

"We believe it’s our highest calling to use our passion and energy to assist the people of our community who are in need," stated in MEGA's mission statement on their website. 

In the past few years, they've been able to raise over $42,000 towards local charities. 

This year, they've chosen Resale to the Rescue, a Mishawaka nonprofit resale store assisting local animal welfare in increasing the number of spayed/neutered animals, increasing the adoption rate of homeless animals and decreasing euthanasia rates at local shelters. 

Jan Caudell, the President and Founder of Resale to the Rescue, looks forward to Michiana Festival of Beers each year.

"We get a really nice donation that helps a lot of animals in our community," she said. "A lot of owners maybe don't have the funds necessary to spay and neuter pets, and so we help them as well."