Breweries collaborate to help family of car crash victimDate: 2/28/2022 WESTERN MASS. – The brewery scene in the lower Pioneer Valley is tight-knit. When one of their own died in a car crash in January, the community came together to honor him in their own special way.
Hampden resident Mike Edgett was a father to two young children, as well as an avid hockey player and craft brewery fan.
“Mike was known throughout the regional brewing scene,” said Ray Berry of White Lion Brewing Company.
“He was a good customer of ours,” said Jared Methe, co-owner of Rustic Brewing Company in Indian Orchard. He reflected on Edgett’s passing, saying, “Now there are two girls without a dad.”
The brewery community, which frequents the Hop Headz Facebook page, began brainstorming ways they could help Edgett’s family. The businesses decided to collaborate on a beer in Edgett’s honor with a portion of the sales going into a bank account for his children.
“Bruno [Coelho] from Drunken Rabbit came up with the label,” Methe said. “His wife’s family is related to Mike.” At the bottom of the label, it reads, “A Tribute to Mike Edgett.”
The beer, called “EdgeBomb,” is a New England Double IPA. “We were told [that] was his favorite beer style,” said Mark Netzer, co-founder of Great Awakening Brewing Company in Westfield.
Each of the collaborating breweries began with a basic recipe and added their own “special mix” to make it a “one-of-a-kind” product, said Berry. The breweries are releasing their versions on different dates over several weeks. “It makes it kind of fun because a different beer is coming out each week,” Methe said.
The beer will be available until this batch runs out, said Lisa Lafrieniere, co-owner Skyline Beer Company in Westfield. She said the collaboration will probably be a one-time brew, but Berry said if it makes a connection with the community, there is a chance it will become an annual offering.
“We support each other and each other’s initiatives,” said Berry. “Every brewery has different costs,” Lafrieniere said, but, “we’re all guaranteeing a percent of the beer goes to his family – the proceeds.” An account has been opened at Monson Savings Bank.
Lafrieniere said an employee in Skyline’s brew house was friends with Edgett, so the tragedy “hit home” for them.
Edgebomb will be available at the following breweries. Contact them for release dates and details.
- Drunken Rabbit Brewing, South Hadley
- Fieldcrest Brewing Company, Wilbraham.
- Great Awakening Brewing Company, Westfield
- Loophole Brewing, Ludlow
- One Way Brewing, Longmeadow
- Rustic Brewing Company, Indian Orchard
- Skyline Beer Company, Westfield
- Two Weeks Notice Brewing Company, West Springfield
- White Lion Brewing Company, Springfield
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