Something delicious is brewing in St. Charles! The 3rd annual collaboration beer is almost here, and we couldn't be anymore excited. Next week, this creative libation will soon be ready to drink, and we are going to let you in on everything you need to know about this annual collaboration, and how you can get your hands on this tasty brew.
The STC Six is comprised of six breweries in St. Charles, IL: Alter Brewing + Kitchen, Broken Brix, D&G Brewing, 93 Octane, Pollyanna Brewing & Distilling, and Riverlands Brewing Company. Every year everybody comes together as one to craft an incredible beer, where a portion of the proceeds goes to benefit a local non-profit organization. One of the aspects that we love so much about the St. Charles community is the fact that the businesses in this town often practice collaboration over competition. In doing so, this allows for wonderful annual programs to be born, just like the STC Six!
Before we dive into this year's beer collaboration, let's jump back in time to recap the previous years:
This was the first-ever St. Charles collaboration - and what a way to kick off an annual tradition it was! That year, the breweries crafted an amber lager with caramel malt, subtle spicy noble hops, and light citrus flavor. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this beer went to support Tri-City Health Partnership and their mission of providing quality health care to members of the community without the ability to pay for services. Over $4,000 was raised. This was the birth of STC Six.
Last year, the STC Six came together to produce another incredible brew! This time around, the brewers crafted a summer pale ale with a hop profile of grapefruit, floral aromas, and a hint of lemon zest - perfect for enjoying outdoors. From this effort, over $4,000 was raised that went towards benefitting Lazarus House with their mission of providing self shelter, food, and a range of support services for men, women, and children in need of help.
Now that we've taken a trip down memory lane. Let's dive into this year's collaborative beer - a California Common. This type of beer ferments with lager yeast at warmer ale temperatures, and is one of the only truly American indigenous styles of beer as it was created in San Francisco. When you take a sip, you'll savor the rustic woody and herbal Northern Brewer hops, that play well with the buscuity and caramel malt flavors.
Photos Courtesy of STC L.E.A.R.N.
While that style of beer sounds absolutely mouthwatering, the best part of the STC Six Beer Collaboration is always the non-profit organization that it will benefit. This year, $1 from every beer sold will go towards STC L.E.A.R.N., an organization that helps St. Charles School District students access to equal learning and academic opportunities, regardless of obstacles created by race, culture, primary language, financial circumstances, family situation, or personal hardship. Some of the ways they've given back include, but is not limited to, tutoring, after school camps, providing school and home study supplies, and more.
Itching to get your hands on this limited-time beer? The STC Six Beer Launch will be on Wednesday, June 12th at 5pm at Alter Brewing + Kitchen, and will be the very first opportunity to have a taste of this delicious libation. These launch parties are an absolute blast (as you can tell from some of the photos above from the previous years), seeing the community come together as one for an amazing cause. We cannot wait to see you all there!
After you've tried the delicious STC Six beer, go visit the other five breweries in town to complete the STC Brew Tour! Using the FREE Travel St. Charles App, you can win an exclusive Brew Tour t-shirt just by stopping by the breweries in St. Charles. To find more information, please click above.