Cancer-fighting brewer creates dandelion beer for charity

Jeffrey Craig tried to get back to brewing beer where he worked at Walkerville Brewery, but his cancer treatments were just too much for him.

He was diagnosed with esophagealcancer in September last year and just couldn't return to work.But, thanks to Windsor's tightly knit craft brewing community, Craig has found a way to brew beer as a form of therapy and charity.

He helped create Fine N' Dandy one of the latest flavours on tap behind the counterat Craftsheads Brewing Company and a way to raise money for cancer research.

"[This collaboration] showed me how close the craft brewing community really is," Craig said.

Brewing generosity

Craftheadsowners BryanDatocand SteveFabischekcame up with the idea after they learned of Craig's diagnosis. Knowing their friend's love of beer brewing, they asked him if he wanted to make batches for fun at their downtown basement location.

"The brewing community is very tight in Windsor,"Datoctold CBC News. "We told him: If you everwannacome in to brew and just to get your mind off things or just for the love and passion you have for craft beer you're more than welcome."

Craig took them up on the offer late last year and the project has turned into a charity.

"It was very generous, very nice," he said of the offer from Craftshead. "This is something I love doing. It's definitely a hobby first, career second."

Craig helped come up withFine N' Dandy, a new brew with a dandelion ingredientcarefully chosen because of itsuse in cancer treatment experiments.

Funding the cancer society

Datocand and Craig also decided to donate beer sale profits to the Canadian Cancer Society.

"It's one of the pillars we stand on to support the community that supports us," saidDatoc.

Fine N' Dandy has been on tap atCraftheadsfor about a month. So far, they've raised $1,700 frombeer andT-shirt sales.

"[This collaboration] showed me how close the craft brewing community really is," said Craig. "We have a Facebookgroup we all talk to each other in. It was very nice, very generous. I really appreciate it."

WalkervilleBrewery is having a launch party for Fine N'Dandy this Friday from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Craig says he's been responding well to his treatment. He attributes the ease of his recovery to family and friends, who've given him so much support along the way.

Cancer-fighting brewer creates beer for charity

8 years ago

Duration 0:48

Brewer with cancer creates beer to benefit charity with help of friend