Brewing up funds to help fire victims

SANDPOINT — The February fire that destroyed five businesses and two iconic building in the heart of downtown Sandpoint also left some people out of work.

The community rallied around those affected with GoFundMe pages and community fundraisers. Utara Brewing Company has participated in some of those efforts, and now, proceeds from the recently released “Bridge Street IPA” will be designated to helping the out-of-work employees impacted by the fire.

Utara moved into downtown Sandpoint in June 2018, and owner David Kosiba said he quickly became friends with some of the guys from The Hound, one of the businesses devastated by the fire.

“Proximity kind of breeds friendship,” Kosiba said. “We felt for them when the fire happened ... we just wanted to help somehow.”

The day after the fire, Utara and Slate Creek Brewing out of Coeur d’Alene decided to embark on a collaborative IPA, with donated materials and efforts by Slate Creek, Proximity Malt, Westwood and Utara brewing companies. The result is a 6.3 percent ABV/60 IBU IPA featuring light, hay-like malt coupled with crisp, traditional hops. It is “refreshingly” over-carbonated and showcasing Centennial hops with a backdrop of Cascade and Columbus, Kosiba said — a unique and refreshing interpretation of a traditional Northwest IPA.

“Thank you to all of the contributors to this project,” Kosiba said. “It’s amazing to be part of such a supportive community.”

Kosiba said they had hoped to push the new beer through sooner, but it took a couple months to get it out.

In addition to a GoFundMe to help out in the early days after the fire, Kosiba said Utara releases a new beer every Monday, so proceeds from the Feb. 11 release went into a bucket to help out as well.

The fire that started in the 200 block of First Avenue on Feb. 11 burned two buildings with five businesses, including The Hound, Headlines Salon, Sandpoint Tattoo and Body Piercing, The Chocolate Bear and China Kitchen. A third building that housed Grace Sandpoint sustained heavy smoke and water damage.

Investigators determined the building of origin is the southern building that housed The Hound and Headlines at 202 N. First Ave. The cause of the fire remains under investigation by the state fire marshal. City officials said early on, however, that no foul play was suspected.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.