Big Storm Brewing Co. has joined its fellow Tampa Bay breweries in releasing house beers to support research for ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease. With help from the national Ales for ALS program, Big Storm crafted an American red ale, which is on draft at the brewery's Clearwater and Odessa taprooms.
Through the end of September, $1 from every pint sold goes to the nonprofit ALS Therapy Development Institute. Ales for ALS has partnered with this leader in ALS research since 2013, raising more than $1,750,000 for the cause.
The Big Storm taproom in Cape Coral is also on board with an Ales for ALS IPA.
Each year, breweries invited to participate in Ales for ALS receive a signature hop blend to use when dreaming up their specialty recipes across the globe. Loftus Ranches and Yakima Chief Hops create and donate the blend, which is a mix of Ekuanot, Simcoe and Loral, plus four experimental hop varieties.
"With each passing year they're gaining a better understanding regarding the physiology of ALS and eventually they will find a cure," according to a statement from Big Storm co-owner L.J. Govoni. "And to be invited to participate in a program like Ales for ALS that helps play a role in funding this critical research is both an honor and extremely rewarding for our entire team."
