Battle of the Beers Benefits Napa County Educational Programs

The brewers showcased their work in a competition designed to showcase the best beer in Northern California, while helping fund music and career programs at local schools.

The Napa Valley Education Foundation hosted its 10th annual Napa Valley Beer Battle and BBQ on Sunday in St. Helena. Spectators at the Tre Posti Events Center on Main Street sampled beers from eight Bay Area beer makers, voting for their favorites while enjoying a barbecue and live music and bidding on auction prices which will benefit music, career preparation, and other programs for Napa County students.

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Prizes in the Battle of Beer live auction, as well as virtual action that kicked off Thursday, ranged from trips to restaurants and wine tastings to stays in a Lake Tahoe cabin or penthouse in condominium on the Big Island of Hawaii.

After pausing like many other public gatherings during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Battle of Beer and BBQ has resumed for the first time since the education foundation merged with NapaLearns in 2021, expanding the the nonprofit’s reach beyond the Napa Valley Unified School District to public schools throughout the county.

This merger inspired the organizers’ decision to move the Upvalley fundraiser from its previous venues in Napa, according to event organizer Lisa Augustine. “It was important for us to show our commitment to the whole county,” she said last week.

Proceeds from the Battle of Beer and its auctions will fund a range of services and programs for local students and faculty, including free or discounted musical instruments, a wellness program to connect children to services, summer internships and career preparation programs, and innovation grants to teachers.