Brews, Music, Collection: Bridgewater, Hillsborough Bars Team Up To Help Ukraine

SOMERSET COUNTY, NJ — Bars in Bridgewater and Hillsborough are teaming up to help Ukraine following the invasion by Russia.

On Thursday, March 3, starting at 4 p.m., 22 West Tap & Grill in Bridgewater will be donating 100 percent of the proceeds from sales of Flounder Brewing's Hill St. Honey Blonde Ale to help Ukraine.

Additionally, there will be a musician playing at 4 p.m. and an open mic night starting at 8 p.m.

The restaurant, run by Martinsville native Kevin Trimarchi, will also be donating $5 for every Tito's Drink sold. Collection boxes will also be at the restaurant to donate to Doctors Without Borders.

Featuring Flounder Brewing was spurred on after brothers Jeremy and Dan Lees, who run the family-owned brewery, shared that they are proudly descended from a 100 percent Ukrainian bloodline on their mom's side.

They also shared their story about how their grandfather was the beekeeper that inspired Hill Street Honey Blond Ale.

"Their inspiration behind Hill Street Honey and ties to the country was a core part of choosing this beer for this fundraiser event," according to 22 West Tap And Grill located at 1601 Route 22 West.

Jeremy and Dan Lees were both raised with the Ukrainian culture and attended a yearly Ukrainian festival where their grandfather enjoyed some vodka and their grandmother made thousands of pierogies.

"The grandparents fled Ukraine in the 1940's after living through the atrocities under Stalin, then later the Nazi's. Their Mom was born in a displaced persons camp in Germany and it was a few years before the long history of the family's Ukraine immigration to the United States happened and the family could finally restart their lives. It is horrible to see the same thing happen yet again to Ukraine by yet another dictator regime," according to Flounder Brewing.

Donations will continue past Thursday with the brewery also donating a portion of all Hill Street Honey sales to The Ukrainian Red Cross and to The UN High Commissioner for Refugees to help Ukrainians fleeing their homeland "like our grandparents had to do 80 years ago."

Collection buckets will also be placed around the brewery at 2 Clerico Lane in Hillsborough to collect extra money for humanitarian aid.

Additionally this weekend, Flounder Brewing will be collecting items needed n a bin at the Tasting Barn to send to the Ukrainian Center in Whippany on Sunday. See needed items below:

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