When you enter the tap room at Payette Brewing Company on a Monday you can sense a different vibe from other breweries and even from other nights at Payette Brewing Company. Amongst the crowd of dart throwing, cornhole playing patrons you sense a deeper level of connection and belonging. Everyone is there for a reason, to make life better for someone. At Payette Brewing Company, everyone knows where your heart and passions are. People come to Payette Brewing Company on Mondays because they want to make a difference and support a favorite non-profit. Donors toast volunteers and vice versa. An intense sense of community surrounds you on Monday nights because this is the night where help is on tap for Treasure Valley non-profits through Kegs4Kause.
Kegs4Kause began when Payette Brewing was working with Radio Boise trying to come up with ways they could help raise money. One idea was to have a night in the tap room to promote Radio Boise. Since they weren't open on Mondays, Payette Brewing decided to open on a Monday and promised to donate 50% of the proceeds from that night to Radio Boise, and asked Radio Boise if they could let all of their listeners know it was happening. People showed up that Monday wanting to support Radio Boise by drinking a beer, and Kegs4Kause became key to Payette Brewing's Payette Forward program. Since 2011, Payette Brewing Company has donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to over 200 Idaho nonprofits.
Some past Kegs4Kause recipients include The Speedy Foundation, Camp Rainbow Gold, Ride for Joy, Oinkari Basque Dancers, Wild Hearts, and Women in Aviation: Gem State Chapter. On October 26 from 5 to 9 pm, Idaho2Fly will be the beneficiary of Kegs 4 Kause. Idaho2Fly offers expense paid retreats to men with cancer, giving them the opportunity to experience the thrilling sport of fly fishing, enjoy Idaho's spectacular scenery, get away from their day-to-day challenges, and gain a new outlook on life.
Steve Drabek, president of Idaho2Fly, shared: "Kegs4Kause gives us a good opportunity to bring the Idaho2Fly community together and get to know each other better. October will be the Halloween party and we will give an award to the best Halloween costume. Kegs4Kause and Payette Brewing gives us a friendly place to get together so families can share what's going on in their lives and we appreciate that."
Kegs4Kause would not happen without Boise native Michael Francis, the owner/brewer/founder of Payette Brewing Company. A former Boeing engineer, Francis has an obsession with craft beer and decided to turn his hobby into a career.
"The brewery is named after the Payette River and Lake," states Francis. "While in Seattle planning a brewery, I was thinking about what I missed most about Idaho, kayaking the Payette River and spending summers on Payette Lake, it just seemed like the perfect name." Francis is passionate about giving back to strengthen the community, and so is his staff. The crew often volunteers to make the community a better place, helping maintain a portion of the Polecat Loop trail. That same spirit led to a special seasonal brew with a purpose, the Payette Forward IPA.
In 2011, the majority of proceeds from the first batch supported the Women's and Children's Alliance. Since 2019, proceeds have benefitted Ales for ALS, which was started by a hop-farming family in Yakima Valley in 2013 and has raised over ten million dollars for ALS research at the ALS Therapy Development Institute. "My wife's uncle was diagnosed with ALS," said Francis, "and so we decided we want to support that. The beer is called Uncle Bill's because Uncle Bill is the one that's been living with ALS."
When asked about his philosophy of life, Francis replied, "Be awesome." Besides making some awesome brews, like the popular award winning Rustler IPA and Recoil IPA, Francis is making an awesome impact on his hometown with Kegs4Kause and Payette Forward.
Applications to be a selected non-profit open on their website in October. Nonprofits must have current 501(c)3 status from the IRS and be able to show proof of designation. Other upcoming beneficiaries of Kegs4Kause are Idaho White Water Association (October 5), Bogus Basin Nordic Team (October 19), Gift of Adoption (November 2), Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce (November 9) and City of Good (November 16). Check payettebrewing.com/taproom-events for more.
Payette Brewing Company
733 S Pioneer Street, Boise
208.344.0011 | payettebrewing.com
Kegs4Kause gives us a good opportunity to bring the Idaho2Fly community together and get to know each other.