California Festival of Beers brings in big bucks for Hospice SLO

The 27th annual California Festival of Beers raised more than $225,000 this year — the largest amount the event has ever brought in for longtime beneficiary Hospice of San Luis Obispo County.

More than 4,500 people attended May’s festival, which funds about a third of the nonprofit organization’s annual budget, said Kris Kington-Barker, executive director of Hospice SLO.

Ticket sales, sponsors, brewers and vendors who donate products and services helped the festival reach the record amount, she said.

“Without these three things working together, this event could not possibly be as beneficial to Hospice SLO as it is,” Kington-Barker said.

The sold-out grandtasting event May 25 at Madonna Inn’s Madonna Meadows in San Luis Obispo featured more than six dozen breweries. A smaller tasting event took place May 24 at the Alex Madonna Expo Center.

Next year’s events will again be at Madonna Meadows and the Expo Center on Memorial Day weekend, organizers said.

According to Hospice SLO, its staff and volunteers provide thousands of hours of free grief counseling and other nonmedical services each year.

This story was originally published July 7, 2013 at 6:01 PM with the headline "California Festival of Beers brings in big bucks for Hospice SLO."