Beer of the Week: Rising Hope

One of the most incredible things about the craft brewing industry is the generosity of its members when it comes to supporting good causes. When getting into the beer game, it’s not likely most entrepreneurs give much thought to the fact that the liquids they will someday produce may become mechanisms for raising funds to help champion humanitarian efforts, yet almost every brewing company, at one time or another – or many, many times over its lifespan – will go this route to lend a hand to individuals in need. Oftentimes, a personal connection will drive such a decision. Such was the impetus for Mike Hess Brewing (MHB), a North Park-based business that threw its weight behind the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation (NPCF) after its namesake founder’s daughter was diagnosed with bone cancer. In 2019, wanting to fund research to fast-track less toxic, more targeted treatments for kids battling cancer, MHB launched an initiative called “Rising Hope”, involving the annual release of a beer of the same name, the net proceeds of which are donated to the NPCF. This year’s edition of Rising Hope was released on Tuesday and it’s this week’s featured beer. In keeping with current craft trends, MHB’s team opted to go with a West Coast Pilsner hopped with Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe, bringing forth plenty of citrusy, tropical and piney notes. Those hops, plus other raw materials for the beer and the cans containing it, were donated by industry partners, including Country Malt Group, Blue Label Packaging and Bay Tech Labels. Last year, MHB donated just under $8,700 to the NPCF. With any luck, they’ll match or surpass that number through sales of this year’s edition of Rising Hope! The beer can be found at MHB’s locations in North Park, Ocean Beach, Imperial Beach and Alpine, as well as its pair of venues inside downtown San Diego’s Seaport Village development. Cheers to craft beer and its power to do good beyond the glass!

Mike Hess Brewing became involved in pediatric cancer after my daughter Keely was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2018. We learned that only 4% of federal cancer-research funding goes to all pediatric cancers combined, and that Keely faced the same three chemotherapy drugs and amputation used to treat osteosarcoma for the previous 35 years. In 2019, our brewers created Beat Cancer, a red ale brewed with beets, to fund research. Soon afterward, John Egan, whom I knew from his time as Head Brewer at Stone Brewing before he joined Country Malt Group, invited us to represent California in Rising Hope. We have brewed it every year since, donating the proceeds to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation to help fund researchers working toward better treatments and cures.”

Mike Hess, Proprietor & Chief Brewing Officer, Mike Hess Brewing

Rising Hope is one of my favorite charity projects that I look forward to each year. When thinking of beers to help generate impact for the NPCF, my goal was to craft something exciting, modern and sessionable. The obvious choice was a West Coast-style Pilsner, a beer that celebrates big hop expression on a clean, classic foundation. We built that foundation with Techecomalt floor-malted Pilsner from one of Czechia’s most respected maltsters. Techecomalt is responsible for roughly 65% of the country’s malt output and renowned for its heritage floor-malting tradition. A touch of their wheat and Vienna malts adds subtle body while keeping the beer firmly in the Pilsner zone. In short, it’s crisp, refreshing and endlessly enjoyable; the perfect high-quality malt for making a West Coast Pils. From there, the hops take center stage. Citra on the hot side lays down a bright tropical, citrusy base, while cold-side additions of Cryo Simcoe and Cryo Mosaic bring saturated berry, pine and citrus aromatics. A double dry-hop pushes those cryo hops into vivid aromas that burst from the glass without weighing down the finish. The result is a charity beer with purpose and personality that is crisp, refreshing and bursting with modern hop character.”

Paul Deras, Jr.; Lead Brewer; Mike Hess Brewing

Mike Hess Brewing’s taprooms are located at 3812 Grim Avenue in North Park, 879 West Harbor Drive, Suite W14-E and 809 West Harbor Drive, Suite E4A in downtown San Diego’s Seaport Village development; 4893 Voltaire Street in Ocean Beach; 805 Ocean Lane in Imperial Beach and 1347 Tavern Road in Alpine