Wheeling, WV, September 16, 2025 – The Mountaineer Brewfest Committee is extremely pleased to announce that proceeds from the 11th Annual Mountaineer Brewfest resulted in a donation of $50,000 to House of the Carpenter.
This donation includes proceeds from the festival totaling $38,000 and $12,000 generated by volunteers of the Circus Saints & Sinners in tips and matching donations. To date, Mountaineer Brewfest has donated $320,000 to local charities. The Mountaineer Brewfest is brought to you by Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack.
“On behalf of House of the Carpenter, thank you for your generosity! It has been a blessing to partner with Mountaineer Brewfest.” said Reverend Dr. Bill Wendell, Executive Director House of the Carpenter. “These funds will not only go towards maintaining our transformative ministries, but they will also enable us to grow in helping people in poverty find hope, healing, and new life!”
For more than 60 years, the House of the Carpenter has stood as a beacon of hope on Wheeling Island. Launched by the United Methodist Church to combat rising poverty in the Upper Ohio Valley, the nonprofit has grown to now serve over 1,400 individuals every week. Rooted in compassion and driven by a mission to uplift, the House of the Carpenter addresses both urgent needs and long-term transformation. Core services include a food pantry, thrift shop, and utility assistance essential lifelines for families facing hardship. The organization’s impact goes far beyond survival. The House of the Carpenter offers life-changing opportunities that empower individuals and families to thrive. The House of the Carpenter is also a vital disaster relief and recovery hub for Wheeling Island, most recently playing a critical role in supporting residents during the 2024 floods.
“We are so proud to present the House of the Carpenter with this $50,000 donation.” stated Brewfest founder and president Jeff Hayes. “There was so much hard work put in to make this happen. We want to thank all our sponsors, patrons, volunteers, and local leaders for their ongoing support of the Mountaineer Brewfest enabling us to provide such a significant donation to a Wheeling charity for the second consecutive year. With this contribution, our total donations now amount to $320,000, it is amazing to think back to the beginnings of the Mountaineer Brewfest and how far it has come to be able to give back this kind of money for local charities!” said Hayes. “We again thank the Circus Saints & Sinners volunteers for the tips they raised and sponsor matching donations for their efforts in our beer garden. The Wheeling Alers, Wheeling Lightningbirds and Wheeling Park Hockey Parents for their volunteer efforts at our craft brewer tents and during teardown. We also thank our WV Craft Brewers and Food Vendors who donated their registration deposits to the House of the Carpenter. A very special thank you to Jody and Beth Prather (Gumby’s) for their winning ‘Tap the Firkin’ auction bid from our Thursday August 14th VIP Craft Beer & Food Pairing and to the Silent Auction Painting by Mindi Yarbrough all benefitting the House of the Carpenter!”
Mountaineer Brewfest sponsors whose contributions supported the 2025 Mountaineer Brewfest are:
- Title Sponsor: Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack
- Partner Sponsors: The 19th Hole, Steptoe & Johnson PLLC, Belmont Savings Bank, Smoker Friendly, The Ziegenfelder Company, Generations Restaurant & Pub, Riverbridge Wealth Management of Raymond James, The UPS Store, MPLX (Marathon Petroleum). Panhandle Cleaning & Restoration, Gumbys LLC, Visit Wheeling WV, Omni Strategic Technologies, Valley Fence, Shirts N More, WTOV9, and Re/MAX Broadwater.
- Distributor Sponsors: Carenbauer Distributing, Blue Mountain Beverage, Johnson Brothers Mountain State Beverage, and Wine & Beverage Merchants of WV.
- Brewer Sponsors: Carpets by Jamison, Edward Jones (Daniel Young), Bernie Glenn Insurance & Financial Services, Liberty Distributors, The Bridge Tavern. Hanlon, McCormick, Schramm, Bickford & Schramm Co, IBEW Local 141, McKinley Architecture & Engineering. Paull Associates, McKinley Carter Wealth Services, Belmont Carson Petroleum, The Glessner Group, Main Street Bank, Convenient Food Marts, Char House on the Boulevard, Cardinal Operating Company, Kalkrueth Roofing & Sheet Metal, Savage Construction, Ohio County Commission, and Truist
- Friends Sponsors: Project BEST, Wesbanco, Community Bank, Cast Property Solutions, Kiwanis Club, Team Sledd, American Sanitary, Fitzsimmons Law Firm, Contractors Supply, Circus Saints & Sinners, The Wheeling Alers, and The Wheeling Lightningbirds
- Media Sponsors: WKKX The Watchdog, The River Network, Disruptor Radio (WV The Torch), iHeartmedia, and Lamar Advertising.
- Special Feature Sponsors: “WV Craft Brewer Reception” – Sponsored by IC Cab and Waterfront Hall, “Smiley Ann’s Photo Van” – Sponsored by McKenzie Riedel Wealth Management, “Main Stage Entertainment” – Co-Sponsored by McKinley Carter Wealth Services and McKinley Architecture & Engineering, and “WV Beer Competition Judging” – Sponsored by Old Colony Realtors.
- Beer Garden Tips Match Sponsors: Erin McDermott & Cynthia Morrison, Robinson Law Office, Charmed Realty Collective, and Friends of the House Of Carpenter: Scott Winters, David & Dixie Ellwood, Christine Machel, Matthew Rafa, Robert & Janet Roset, Michael & Denise Linger, George & Carol Blum.
WV Craft Brewers and Food Vendors who donated their registration deposits to House of the Carpenter are: Screech Owl Brewing, Short Story Brewing, Fox Hops Brewery, Fife Street Brewing, Bridge Brew Works, Big Timber Brewing, Abolitionist Ale Works, The Peddler, Frosty Softy, The Wood Fired Pizza Company, So Nuts 4 Donuts, Paleonardo’s, and Ideal Provisions!
“Tap the Firkin” VIP Craft Beer & Food Pairing auction winners Jody and Beth Prather (Gumby’s) for their generous winning auction bid donation to House of the Carpenter
Silent Auction beautiful original painting by Mindi Yarbrough depicting how the Mountaineer Brewfest celebrates the craft, culture and community of West Virginia craft beer and the Ohio Valley. And Carl Miller’s winning silent auction bid that benefitted the House of the Carpenter.
The Mountaineer Brewfest also presented $1500 checks to the Wheeling Alers Home Brew Club and Wheeling Lightningbirds Hockey Club and a $500 check to the Wheeling Park Hockey Parents for their volunteer efforts and support at this year’s event.
Members of the Mountaineer Brewfest Board and Committee are:
Board Members: Adam Brothers, Corey Albers, Jeff Hayes, Jeff Yourkovich, Mike Costanzo, and Patrick McDermott.
Committee Members: Matt Welsch, Sheila DeLaurentis, Tina Carinci Morris, Eurika Ellison, Jess Moore, Joel Sansone, John DiCarlo, Scott Fletcher, Aron Massey, Brittany Reilly, Phil Carl, Robert Felton, and Alli Stocklask.
