SweetWater & The Giving Kitchen Releases 2016 Second Helping IPA

SweetWater Brewing Co. and The Giving Kitchen announce the return of Second Helping, their collaborative ale that generates funds for the non-profit.  Consumers simply buy a Second Helping on draft at restaurants and bars or a 22 oz bottle from a retailer, and SweetWater and United give 100% of profits to The Giving Kitchen.  The 2016 donation is expected to exceed $50,000. The beneficial brew, an IPA with juniper berries, is being released for the third year in a row; available only in the month of January in participating bars, restaurants and retailers in Atlanta.

The Giving Kitchen is a non-profit organization that grew out of an inspiring charitable movement to financially assist beloved local chef Ryan Hidinger’s battle with cancer.  The restaurant industry banded together and rallied customers and friends to join in their fundraising efforts – people Ryan never even met were inspired by his story and the immense support from the community, resulting in a grassroots effort that raised nearly $250,000.   In his final days, Ryan said he knew The Giving Kitchen had to be something bigger than one person.  Today, this organization has provided over $500,000 in financial assistance (and critical peace of mind) to restaurant workers who’ve fallen on hard times.

Second Helping is the result of a collaboration between SweetWater’s brewers and the late Ryan Hidinger.   In 2013, Ryan and his wife Jen met with SweetWater head brewer Nick Nock to create a recipe for a bigger beer that would pair well with food.  Their use of juniper berries is evident – one helping was steeped in the brewhouse, then a second helping was added to the dry hop.  The result is a slightly spicy and tangy taste with a balanced citrus flavor and aroma.

“It’s an honor to participate in carrying on Ryan’s legacy with such a fantastic brew while supporting The Giving Kitchen’s phenomenal mission,” says Freddy Bensch, founder of SweetWater.

“The Giving Kitchen would not exist without partners like SweetWater Brewing and United Distributors,” said The Giving Kitchen’s Executive Director, Stephanie Galer. “Since inception, our supporters have allowed us to provide emergency assistance to over 350 restaurant workers facing an unanticipated crisis; workers like Vanessa Amos who received a grant to help cover living expenses while she was out of work caring for her critically ill husband.”

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