Down A Wild Brew To Benefit Sutton Aviation Center

Rick Wells, News On 6

TULSA, Oklahoma -- There's a new beer on the market this week, created to help promote the Wild Brew Festival. Sale of the beer will also help the festival beneficiary, the Sutton Avian Research Center.

The recipe for this special brew results from a collaboration between Choc Beer and Oklahoma's home brewers. 

Displays are popping up at liquor stores all over the area. They feature this year's collaboration ale, named "Wild Brew," created to promote the Wild Brew Festival. 

"Plenty of beers and food from local restaurants," said Zach Prichard of the Choc Beer Company.

The sale of this beer and proceeds from the festival benefit the Sutton Avian Research Center up in Bartlesville. Zach Prichard of the Choc Beer Company this is the second year they've collaborated on a beer for the festival - this year with the home brew club: FOAM.

It's probably one of the great acronyms of all time. It means Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers.

They're the folks who make beer in the kitchen, or the basement or even the garage.  Folks like Jeff Purlsey.

Rick Wells, News On 6: "Do you make your beer in the garage?"
Jeff Pursley, FOAM President: "Yup, I do. I just set it up pretty much like this, in the garage. I just ladle my hot water into the grain."

There're just a few simple steps you have to follow, and you have to have the right equipment. Purlsey has accumulated his over the 15 years he's been making his own beer. 

"This is called a wart chiller," Pursley said of one piece of equipment.

Funny sounding name, but essential to making a good batch of beer, which he says he has completed in a short as a couple of weeks. It's better though if you are more patient. But, he says, anybody can do it. 

"I tell folks if you can make macaroni and cheese you can brew good beer," said Jeff Pursley, president of the Fellowship of Oklahoma Ale Makers.

Easier still, go buy a bottle of this Wild Brew, and help the Sutton Center in the process 

"If you want one of these beers you should pick it up quick," said Zach Prichard of the Choc Beer Company. 

The Wild Brew beer is available in limited supply at many locations around the area. The Wild Brew event, which benefits the Sutton Avian Research Center, is coming in late July.

Learn more about the Wild Brew event.