Beer Distributors Join Industry Response to California Wildfires

ALEXANDRIA, VA. – The Independent Beer Distributors Relief Fund (IBDRF) announced it is joining California wildfire relief efforts with a $25,000 donation to the Sierra Nevada Brewery Relief Fund for Camp Fire.

The donation supports the effort begun by Sierra Nevada, a California brewer, and amplified by the beer industry around the country. The contribution is made in honor of Markstein Distributing and DBI Beverage as both companies had employees affected by the Camp Fire.

“The beer family is close-knit, so it’s natural that brewers and distributors would join forces to assist in recovery efforts after these devastating wildfires,” said Craig Purser, president and CEO of the National Beer Wholesalers Association. “The Independent Beer Distributors Relief Fund was established to lend a helping hand when disasters strike, and with the magnitude of these fires, we wanted to help our friends get back on their feet.”

The Independent Beer Distributors Relief Fund (IBDRF) was established in Texas following the destruction of Hurricane Harvey in 2017. As a result of an overwhelming desire to help the “beer family” and ensure that resources would go directly to those most affected by disasters, the mission of the fund emerged and continues today. Funds are disbursed on an as-needed basis and provide immediate relief to members of the beer community. This long-term support system stands ready to help those impacted by this and future disasters.

“The response by our beer community has been overwhelming. Our friends in California have a long road ahead, but we are inspired by the outpouring of concern from distributors around the country asking how to help fellow members of our industry,” Purser added.

In response to the wildfires, Sierra Nevada created a new beer, Resilience IPA, to benefit victims and encouraged other brewers to join them. Quickly, more than 1,200 brewers coast to coast – about 20 percent of all brewers in America – answered the call and banded together to make Resilience IPA in their own tanks. The beer should be available around the country soon.