New Yorkers can now donate to the esteemed New York City firefighters just by having a cold one. Hook & Ladder Brewing Company, the beer company created by a firefighter that gives back to firefighters, will be making its NYC debut at the Brewtopia Festival (Pier 92, Oct. 31st – Nov. 1st). The mission-based Hook & Ladder gives back a portion of all sales to improve the care, treatment, and quality of life for burned firefighters and burn survivors.
Through their “A Penny in Every Pint” and “Quarter in Every Case” initiatives, Hook & Ladder has raised over $50,000 for local burn foundations in the past ten months alone. In New York City, the New York Firefighters Burn Center Foundation will receive $4 from each barrel and 25 cents from each case of Hook & Ladder beers sold.
“We’re extremely passionate about two things: our beers and our work in the community,” states Rich Fleischer, a 15-year volunteer firefighter, head brewer, and founder of Hook & Ladder, “I’m eager to bring that passion to New York City where there is such a dedicated firefighter community, and get involved with the local heroes.”
Hook & Ladder produces five beers: Golden Ale®, Backdraft Brown®, Hook & Ladder LIGHTER™, Pipe & Drum Irish Ale™ and Ember Amber™. The Golden Ale® is a Great American Beer Festival Gold Medalist and the Backdraft Brown is the reigning champion of the prestigious 2008 Washington Post Beer Madness competition. Pipe & Drum Irish Ale™ and Ember Amber™ are Hook & Ladder’s newest brews, released in October 2008.
According to annual statistics for the beer industry recently released by The New Brewer magazine, Hook & Ladder experienced the greatest percentage growth (688%) of any non-brewpub craft brewer in the nation in 2007. In October 2006, Hook & Ladder had just one wholesale distributor and was available only in the Washington, D.C. market. Hook & Ladder brews are now available in 27 states and Washington, D.C., distributed by more than 110 wholesale partners. Hook & Ladder can be found in top markets including New York, Philadelphia, Boston and Washington, D.C.
