Sales of Hellman's Basement Brew will supporting the Medicine Hat and Redcliff Legions. (CHAT News Photo/Bob Schneider)

By Chris Brown

Selling fast

Breweries come together to brew up support for legions

Oct 30, 2020 | 3:23 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB – Two Medicine Hat breweries have partnered to help out the Medicine Hat and Redcliff Legions and are having some fun with a well known local businessman along the way.

“Chris Hellman’s always had a dream to make a beer called Hellman’s Basement, kind of a play on Hell’s Basement’s name and his last name. He approached me and Mike (Patriquin) from Hell’s Basement and we came together,” says Kaiden Vancuren, general manager of manufacturing and distribution at Medicine Hat Brewing Company.

One dollar from each six pack sold will be donated to Robertson Memorial Legion Branch 17 in Medicine Hat and Royal Canadian Legion Branch 6 in Redcliff.

“It’s part of the mantra of craft breweries to be local and relevant so this is one way we can help support our community,” says Patriquin, co-owner and general manager at Hell’s Basement. “The legions are struggling financially with the COVID closures and things like that so it’s one way we can give back to the community.”

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Vancuren and Patriquin describe the beer as an American wheat ale that’s light and approachable.

It’s the first collaboration between the breweries. The label is a mash-up of both company logos and also features a distinctive touch of Hellman.

“Chris Hellman has his famous part in his hair so we took our Gentleman Stout label and kind of made it look more like Hell’s Basement’s and put his part in his hair. It’s a pretty fun label,” says Vancuren.

The beer is available at the two breweries and at most liquor stores in Medicine Hat and has been selling fast since being released Thursday.