In April, an exploding plastic keg that killed a Redhook Brewery employee sent shockwaves through the brewing industry.
On April 24th, twenty-six-year-old Ben Harris was pressurizing a keg as part of a cleaning process when it exploded. Harris, who worked at Redhook Brewery’s Portsmouth Brewery location, died shortly thereafter at nearby Portsmouth Regional Hospital.
Redhook Brewery has created a tribute beer, appropriately named ‘Ben Harris Beer,’ in honor of the company’s fallen comrade. It’s a unique take on the classic cream ale style, checking in at 4.7 percent and 19 IBU’s.
A special tapping event will be held on Friday, July 20th at 4 p.m. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Ben Harris fund.
Below is the official press release.
PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Redhook Brewery invites the New England community to remember and celebrate Ben Harris with a special tapping of Ben Harris Beer, a memorial beer brewed for Ben. The keg tapping celebration will be held at the Redhook Brewery in Portsmouth, N.H., located at 1 Redhook Way, on Friday, July 20, from 4:00-11:00 p.m. All proceeds from Ben Harris Beer sold during the event will benefit the Ben Harris Fund.
After the July 20 tapping, Redhook will donate $1 to the Ben Harris Fund for every pint of Ben Harris Beer sold at the Cataqua Pub. Redhook Brewery plans to make Ben Harris Beer available on draught nationally over the next several weeks and months. Starting this fall, the brewery plans to bottle Ben Harris Beer and distribute it in the New England markets of New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, Connecticut, New York and Massachusetts. Additionally, Redhook plans to make the bottled beer available in Ben’s home state of Pennsylvania.
“Ben Harris was an incredible man. He was a longtime member of the Redhook family, a friend to all of us and a beer lover through and through,” said Alex Kopf, Redhook senior brewer. “We chose to brew a cream ale for Ben to represent not only the type of beer he loved, but also the man he was: a fun-loving, hard-working family man. There’s nothing we’d like more than to be enjoying this beer with Ben, and we hope that the community will join us in honoring his legacy and celebrating his life by raising a pint.”
About Ben Harris Beer:
Ben Harris Beer is Redhook’s special take on the classic cream ale style, brewed in tribute to our friend and teammate, Ben Harris. This is a beer that Ben would have wanted to drink. It’s a beer brewed for those who work hard and play hard, just as Ben did. But most importantly, it’s a beer brewed for us to share as we remember and celebrate Ben’s life.
Ben liked a touch of hops in his beer, so we hopped up a classic cream ale recipe, Redhook style. Ben Harris Beer was brewed with ingredients you’d expect to find in cream ale: two-row barley, carapils for a touch of sweetness, victory malt for a touch of breadiness and a dose of corn for good measure. We hopped it up with some Sterling, Saaz, and Hallertau hops, which create a crisp, clean and refreshing beer just for Ben. Ben Harris Beer is 4.7% ABV and 19 IBU.
About Redhook:
Redhook was born out of the energy and spirit of the early 80s in the heart of Seattle. While the term didn’t exist at the time, Redhook became one of America’s first “craft” breweries. From a modest start in a former transmission shop in the Seattle neighborhood of Ballard, to the current breweries in Woodinville, Wash., and Portsmouth, N.H., Redhook has become one of America’s most recognized craft breweries. While Redhook has “grown up” during the past 30 years, one thing has never changed — Redhook is still brewing great beers like ESB, IPA, Copperhook, Pilsner and seasonal brews. Most importantly, Redhook makes sure to have fun doing it. Redhook’s beers are available both on draught and in bottles around the country. For more information, visit www.redhook.com.