One of beer blogging’s best-known and most-loved figures, Angelo De Ieso who founded one of my favorite beer blogs Brewpublic, was in the hospital recently where it was discovered he has a benign brain tumor. As scary as that is, because of the extended hospital stay, brain surgery, anti-seizure medications and more, Angelo has amassed over $200,000 in medical bills that have to come out-of-pocket as he doesn’t have medical insurance. This is where we get to help.

Fortunately there are a number of ways we can contribute to help fund Angelo’s bills and I’m encouraging everyone to help out if they can.

First and foremost, you can donate directly on Fundly: this is a quick and secure form where you can donate money directly to Angelo’s campaign. Any little bit will help.

In addition to donating directly (or if you’re uncomfortable with this option) there are other fundraising opportunities going on that you can support by buying beer:

Belmont Station in Portland for the month of October has a dedicated “Angelo’s Tap“:

At Belmont Station, we are dedicating one of our taps in the Bier Cafe to our friend, Angelo M De Ieso II, founder of BREWPUBLIC. All the proceeds from that tap will be donated to Angelo to help with his mounting medical bills. Our current “Angelo’s Tap” is:
Nikasi Sleigh’r Dark Double Alt Ale
Come lift a pint and help out a tireless supporter of craft beer!

And this Thursday the 17th, there are two special fundraisers going on in Portland:

The Commons Brewery is hosting a Benefit for Angelo evening where all draft sales of beer will be donated to Angelo to help cover the bills:

In September 2010, BREWPUBLIC hosted a Microhopic event at Bailey’s Taproom featuring Beetje. It was the first big event for this new start-up and the beginnings of a very strong friendship with one of the best craft beer advocates we know.

We hope to return all of his generosity by donating all draft sales from this evening to Angelo’s medical fund. In addition to our beer we will have beers generously donated from several other local breweries.

A special Thank You to Ninkasi for designing the event poster.

Commons – Urban Farmhouse
Commons – Gose
Breakside Brewery – Wanderlust IPA
Deschutes Brewery – Weizenbock
Fort George Brewery – Next Adventure Black IPA
Gigantic Brewing Company – TicWitTic (Sour Wit)
Laurelwood Public House & Brewery – Monksfest (Belgian Single)
Ninkasi Brewing – Sterling Pils
Occidental Brewing Company- Dunkelweizen
Upright Brewing – English Pale Ale
Vertigo Brewing – Hop Harvest (Fresh Hop IPA)
Widmer Brothers Brewing – Upheavel IPA (Northwest IPA)

And The EastBurn is teaming up with Seattle’s Elysian Brewing to host a special Beer Belly Dinner that will benefit Angelo: five dishes paired with Elysian beers and it only costs $40 (you can purchase tickets in advance here). You could even make Thursday night a two-fer: hit The Commons at 5pm for a couple-three beers and then head over to The EastBurn for the 6:30 dinner.

Angelo has done more for the Northwest beer community than most other people I know, and is one of the nicest guys I’ve met through this beer blogging thing. If you can help, please do so, every little bit helps.