KCBS AM -- Brewers began making a special ale on Tuesday that will be sold early next year to raise money for survivors of the immense wildfire in Butte County.
Chico-based Sierra Nevada Brewing spearheaded the project to concoct the Resilience Butte County Proud IPA. They've shared the recipe with hundreds of breweries across the country, including many in the Bay Area.
"Resilience is standing up for your friends and your neighbors and making sure they know you care," said Scott Ungermann, brewmaster at Anchor Brewing in San Francisco. "Just seeing the images of people having their lives ripped apart, barely escaping and knowing that so many people didn't escape really tugs at your heart."
The Camp Fire, as it's known, killed at least 88 people and torched more than 13,000 homes, before officials declared that it was fully contained on Sunday. Although it's not the largest, the fire was more deadly and destructive of property than any in California's history.
Anchor Brewing will produce 37 kegs of the Resilience IPA, which will become part of the 2,000 barrels to be contributed by all the breweries.
"This beer is an old school IPA," said Ungermann, adding that it's made with two "classic" varieties of hops.
Santa Rosa's Russian River Brewing, Livermore's Altamont, Oakland United Beerworks, Sonoma Springs Brewing, San Francisco's Speakeasy, and Berkeley's Fieldwork are all whipping up batches of the special suds. Trumer Pils in Berkeley, meanwhile, donated $100,000 to the Sierra Nevada Camp Fire Fund.
"We know that the rebuilding process will take time, but we’re in this for the long haul," a message on Sierra Nevada's website said. "Our hope is to get Resilience IPA in taprooms all over the country to create a solid start for our community's future."