For the past three years, El Cajon-based non-profit Urban Surf 4 Kids has looked forward to wet-hop season just as much as local lupulin lovers. That’s because, each year, San Diego‘s Horsethief Hops donates fresh whole-cone hops to local breweries so they can brew beers to raise money for the organization, which provides surf therapy, mentoring and adult-readiness programs for underprivileged children throughout San Diego County. Horsethief is owned by Eli Palma, who, like most of the brewery owners who’ve participated in this charity effort, is a member of local homebrew entity, QUAFF. Barrio Logan’s Thorn Beer Co. kicked off this annual tradition in 2018, followed by Miramar’s Duck Foot Brewing in 2019. Taking up the mantle this year is Vista’s Five Suits Brewing.
“Being a QUAFF member, I’ve been fortunate enough to meet some amazing people,” says Five Suits co-owner and Brewmaster Nick Corona. “On top of that list is Jamie Jeffredo, who was QUAFF’s event coordinator for many years. She’s always been a shining light of positivity in everything that she does, so when she approached me about the possibility of helping Urban Surf 4 Kids, I knew the organization was going to be a good one. Little did I know how good. The effort the organization puts in for these children is huge, and we wanted that reflected in the beer.”
In this case, “huge” translated to high-ABV (alcohol-by-volume). Corona devised an 8% San Diego-style ale (read: big on hop flavors and aromas with a crisp, dry finish) fortified with what he calls “70 pounds of gorgeous, supple and Instagram-worthy hops” that he and charity participants stuffed into Five Suits’ hop back then pushed cooled wort through on its way to the fermentation tank. The result is an aroma he says is unlike anything he’s experienced before and likens to a bowl of Fruity Pebbles. The hop varietals infused into the beer are Pacific Gem, Southern Cross, Comet, Chinook and Cascade.
“The hops are grown in Japatul Valley, a few miles east of Alpine,” says Palma. “The hops were planted to use for homebrewing and to share with friends, but what started as a hobby to test how new hop varietals do in our climate, elevation and soil—our terroir, if you will—quickly morphed into a hop yard. The hops are mainly grown now to donate to this charity, in addition to bagging a few up for myself and my friends’ homebrews.”
Horsethief Hops donated approximately 120-130 plants—78 pounds when weighed—for the Five Suits collaboration. Palma says he plans to continue contributing to Urban Surf 4 Kids and even grow the yard to be able to donate on a larger scale. That steady sense of devotion from Horsethief and local brewers—amateur and professional alike—is something Urban Surf 4 Kids is abundantly grateful for.
“The generosity we have seen from QUAFF club members volunteering to help with the hop harvest and the beer community as a whole makes this project more than a beer launch,” says Urban Surf 4 Life Executive Director Roxanne Pena Avant. “Ohana is the Hawaiian term for ‘chosen family’ and we say it often at Urban Surf 4 Kids with heart and absolute appreciation. This annual effort is a new form of Ohana, coming together to benefit our mentoring program for kids healing from complex trauma.”
The charity beer will make its official debut on Saturday, August 29 at a fundraising event taking place from 12 to 8 p.m., and made up of three two-hour sessions, each of which will include a raffle, food from Al Toque Peruvian Restaurant and more. Tickets can be purchased via email. Those who would simply like to purchase the beer can also pre-order it by emailing Five Suits.
Five Suits Brewing is located at 2575 Pioneer Avenue, Suite 104 in Vista