MICHIGAN CITY — The Michigan City-based brewers of Burn ‘Em Brewing took home the coveted People’s Choice prize at the second annual Midwest Brewer’s Brawl on Sunday – earning the title of Best in Brawl.
Other competing breweries were Ironwood Brewing of Valparaiso, Crown Brewing of Crown Point, Evil Czech Brewery of Mishawaka, Four Fathers Brewing of Valparaiso, Iechya Da Brewing of Elkhart, Pleasant House Brewing of Three Oaks, Round Barn Brewery of Baroda and Shoreline Brewery of Michigan City.
People attending the brawl at Washington Park were each given a bottle cap – used as a ballot to cast their vote for People’s Choice by placing it in a bucket representing the brewery they felt had the best brew.
Three judges, selected from non-competing breweries chose the winning breweries for specific classes of brews – won by Burn ‘Em Brewing, Shoreline Brewery and Round Barn Brewery.
The event, organized by the Northwest Indiana Leaders Young Professional Network, is held to raise funds to benefit Minds in Motion – a United Way organization that helps children learn in unique ways.
According to Charlie Roberts of the NWI Leaders, the event raised $7,000 last year – its inaugural year – a number they hoped to beat this year.
Minds in Motion was selected as the beneficiary of this event for the second consecutive year because it is a great local cause that is underfunded, said Buddy Thomas of the NWI Leaders.
Kristina Hughes, also of the NWI Leaders, described Minds in Motion as an additional step to help children learn, adding her daughter participated in the Minds in Motion pilot program.
“She met more of her goals in the six months with Minds in Motion than she did in an entire year,” she said of her daughter. “It’s a really great program.”
Volunteering his time to help United Way this year was R.J. Pate, who just returned home after serving a five-year stint with the U.S. Navy. Helping out at Sunday’s event by selling 50/50 raffle tickets for Minds in Motion, Pate was described as someone who went from “serving our country to serving our community.”
Stationed aboard the George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier, Pate was an IT-2 Petty Officer. He received a letter of commendation, seven medals and nine service ribbons during his time in active duty.
“I really felt the importance of serving to support our community,” Pate said, adding he served his community so the people of La Porte County can live united.
The United Way was happy to partner with the NWI Leaders for this event, adding they are happy to support emerging leaders.
More information regarding the Northwest Indiana Leaders Young Professionals Network is available by visiting and liking their Facebook page.
