ITEM PHOTO | KATIE MORRISON
People packed Bent Water’s outdoor patio for the second-annual “Bent Water Blast Off.”
By MATT DEMIRS
LYNN — Bent Water Brewing Co. raised more than $5,000 Saturday for Beyond Walls, a nonprofit whose mission is to brighten the downtown.
“One of the biggest things the craft beer industry is all about is paying back to the community,” said Caitlin Kreitman, Bent Water’s event manager. “We’re beering it forward by using our beer to support the community.”
The event attracted 1,100 people. While admission was free, a donation of $5-$10 was suggested with proceeds going to Beyond Walls. The work the group is doing in the downtown will boost the city’s morale, Kreitman said.
“Beautifying anything automatically picks someone up,” she said. “The fact that it’s a crowd funded, Lynn supported, Lynn grassroots organization, that’s what we love.”
Amanda Hill, associate director of Beyond Walls, said the volunteer group is completing four projects. The plans include underpass lighting in Central Square, the installation of a dozen neon lights in the downtown, a mural festival in July featuring local and international artists, and a sculpture of a General Electric Co. jet engine.
Hill said Beyond Walls’ initiatives demonstrate a great showing of community support.
“It is nice to see everyone come together to rally around a common cause,” she said.
Beyond Walls’ online crowdfunding portal, patronicity.com/lynn, closes tonight after a successful two-month effort. The group hopes to reach its stretch goal by raising $15,000 before 11:45 p.m.
On Saturday night, people gathered around artist Chris “Tallboy” Coulon from Beyond Walls who painted a mural on the grain storage container.
Tallboy wasn’t the only local talent.
Corinn Bacon, a Lynn English High School graduate and aspiring musician, performed with her band, Foxes. It was the band’s second time playing at the Bent Water.
“It was amazing being invited and performing at the event, especially having come from the area,” she said. “Being able to support a cause that benefits the people of your hometown was an honor.”
The second annual “Bent Water Blast Off” capped off American Craft Beer Week. The brewery presented six new beers including Sluice Juice #4, Sherry Baby II, White Rose, Concrete Kiss, X-Series No. 17, and Blast Off.
Patrons raved about White Rose, a coffee IPA named after the White Rose Coffeehouse in Central Square.
“I’ve never tried a beer with coffee in it before,” said Kate Walsh. “I really like it though and I love that it is named after my favorite coffee shop.”
Bent Water is a self-canning, self-distributing brewery with an onsite taproom featuring 13 rotating taps. It is the city’s only brewery.
Kreitman said the release of the new beers will hopefully attract business in the summer months.
“That’s why we called it the blast off event,” she said. “It’s a nice fun event that launches everyone off into summer.”
Matt Demirs can be reached at [email protected].