Yesterday was North Texas Giving Day, and as organizations around North Texas offered time, money, and donated goods to local nonprofits, I wanted to share some of the great deeds of our local craft beer communities. Some of the best beer events, beyond festivals and beer dinners, are the charity events sponsored by local breweries that donate products, time, and brewery space to support those in need within their own communities.

This past weekend, I attended Real Ale Brewing Company‘s Cans for Cans Food Drive in Dallas, TX. This event benefitted the North Texas Food Bank and, though the first of its kind in Dallas, was one of several events held throughout the great state of Texas. Real Ale Brewing Co. operates out of Blanco, TX, nearly 300 miles away from Dallas. But as Real Ale representative Chris Nun͂ez expressed, the brewery has a strong commitment to giving back to all Texans and supporting the communities that embrace them. The brewery also sponsors food drive events in Austin and Houston, with hopes of one day expanding to help many more Texas cities.

The Dallas Cans for Cans event was the first Real Ale-sponsored food drive in North Texas. Guests who came to the event were encouraged to exchange two cans of nonperishable food items for a can of Real Ale Fireman’s #4 Blonde Ale, Hans’ Pils, or 4-Squared Dry-Hopped Ale. The food donations benefitted the North Texas Food Bank, a nonprofit hunger relief organization that distributes food to 13 area counties and provides nearly 175,000 meals a day. The food drive also featured local art, music by DJ Big J of Clever Monkeys, area food trucks, and a hand-crafted Real Ale plinko game. The plinko game was Real Ale’s unique way of offering guests a chance to win brewery swag while recycling those empty beer cans.

Our local breweries may not have the buying power to score large billboards or 30-second ads on television BUT their dedication and love for the local community is the best and most honest marketing tool for me. I truly appreciate and offer all my support to these breweries that care enough to give back what they can – whether it’s beer, money, or time – to a cause greater than themselves. That is worth raising a pint and saluting.