Chautauqua County
Southern Tier Brewing Company and National Comedy Center Team Up to Support ALS Research
Two hometown organizations with national reach are joining forces to support the fight against ALS.
Southern Tier Brewing Company and the National Comedy Center have partnered to launch Bit by Bit Blonde Ale, a limited-release 5.1% Blonde Ale created to raise funds and awareness for ALS research. The beer is now available at Southern Tier Brewing Company taprooms and the National Comedy Center, as well as select local retailers, with proceeds benefitting ALS Therapy Development Institute (ALS TDI) and the Sean M. Healey & AMG Center for ALS at Massachusetts General Hospital.
Throughout the campaign, Southern Tier Brewing Company will donate $1 from every draft pint sold and $1 from every four-pack purchased to-go to support ongoing ALS research efforts.
“We’re honored to be partnering with the National Comedy Center for Bit by Bit,” said Brandon Hank, Brand Manager at Southern Tier Brewing Company. “Craft beer has always been about community, so having the ability to raise funds for a great cause with another organization born in Chautauqua County is truly special.”
The beer’s name, Bit by Bit, draws inspiration from the comedy “bits” that have brought people together for generations while also reflecting the incremental progress being made every day in the fight against ALS. Just as breakthroughs in research happen bit by bit, every pint and four-pack sold contributes to advancing critical research and bringing hope to those impacted by the disease. The collaboration was created to celebrate community while supporting a cause that affects thousands of families across the country.
The initiative carries a personal connection for the National Comedy Center and the broader Jamestown community. National Comedy Center Board Member Jon Albro, a Jamestown native, was recently diagnosed with ALS, underscoring the importance of supporting organizations working to advance research, improve treatments, and ultimately find a cure.
“At the National Comedy Center, we see every day how comedy brings people together, creates connection, and helps people navigate life’s challenges,” said Gary Hahn, Vice President, Marketing and Communications at the National Comedy Center. “We understand the power of laughter to inspire hope and build community, and this partnership reflects that spirit while supporting a cause that has touched our National Comedy Center family.”
“On behalf of the ALS community, I would like to thank Sara DeMink of Southern Tier Brewing Company for her leadership & friendship, the Southern Tier Brewing Company marketing team, and Journey Gunderson and the National Comedy Center team. The region is extremely fortunate to have two world-class organizations that contribute so much to the community. I’m very proud of this effort and thank everyone for participating,” stated National Comedy Center Board Member Jon Albro.
Through Bit by Bit Blonde Ale, Southern Tier Brewing Company and the National Comedy Center hope to inspire guests to support ALS research while celebrating the power of community, laughter and local partnerships.
ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Nearly 30,000 Americans are currently living with ALS, and every 90 minutes someone is diagnosed with the disease. Through the Ales for ALS program, breweries across the country help fund critical research and raise awareness for those impacted by the disease.
In addition to the beer release, Southern Tier Brewing Company will host a series of comedy-themed events and fundraising activities throughout June at its taproom locations, including a classic comedy movie night to be held June 16 at Southern Tier’s Buffalo taproom, followed by Comedy Trivia night on June 25 at The Empty Pint in Lakewood, bringing together guests for evenings of community, entertainment and fundraising.
The campaign will also include opportunities for guests to participate in special giveaways, including a chance to win tickets to the National Comedy Center’s Lucille Ball Comedy Festival and a two-night stay at the Chautauqua Harbor Hotel. Guests can learn more about the campaign, make donations, view event schedules, and enter giveaways by visiting: https://stbcbeer.com/bitbytbit/
The Bit by Bit campaign will run through July 6.
