(Chapel Hill, NC)—The second annual Homebrew for Hunger festival will take place on November 17th at West End Public in downtown Chapel Hill. Presented by Fifth Season Gardening Co., this unique event allows the public to taste and learn about beer from local homebrewers and craft breweries. All proceeds will benefit PORCH, an all-volunteer, grass-roots hunger relief organization whose mission is to collect and distribute food to assist families living in poverty in the Chapel Hill and Carrboro community.

“Homebrew for Hunger is really a celebration of local beer,” says event co-organizer Richard Quinn from Fifth Season Gardening. “We are lucky to have incredible breweries in our area and a thriving scene of individuals producing amazing beer in small batches in their homes. Our goal for the festival is to bring beer makers and beer lovers together while raising money for a deserving charity in PORCH.”

Homebrew for Hunger will feature over 70 beers from 47 local home brewers serving a variety of their own beers including Mocha Jack Chocolate Pumpkin Porter, Carrboro Hopped Pale Ale, Grano’ale Toasted Oatmeal Stout (made with homemade granola), and more traditional saisons, IPAs, porters and ales, They will be joined by local craft breweries including Fullsteam, Carolina Brewery, Bull City Burger & Brewery, Aviator Brewing Company, Lone Rider Brewing Company, Natty Green Brewing Co., Triangle Brewing Co. and Big Boss Brewing Company. For a complete list of participating home brewers and craft breweries with the beers they are serving, please visit http://homebrewforhunger.com/beer-line-up/.

The inaugural festival in 2011 drew 350 beer lovers to taste beer from 50 homebrewers and craft breweries, raising $6,000 and collecting over 200 pounds of food to benefit the Food Bank.

Proceeds from Homebrew for Hunger 2012 will benefit the local charity PORCH which supports several local food pantries as well as efforts to get non-perishables and produce directly into the hands of area families and schools in need.

“PORCH is so grateful and honored to be the recipient of funds raised this year by the Homebrew for Hunger benefit,” says Debbie Horwitz, co-founder of PORCH and director of the Food for Families program. “With over one-fourth of the school children in Chapel Hill and Carrboro qualifying for free or reduced-price meals and one in seven neighbors living in poverty, thousands of local residents are at risk of hunger from one day to the next. The Homebrew for Hunger benefit will help PORCH grow its Food for Families program, which gets fresh fruits and vegetables, milk, and eggs directly into the hands of local families in need. Since PORCH is an all-volunteer hunger relief organization, all donations go toward the purchase of fresh produce for the Food for Families program.”

To raise additional money for PORCH Homebrew for Hunger will accept non-perishable food at the door and raffle off prizes from homebrew manufacturers and local businesses. Raffle tickets are available for $1 or festivalgoers can donate one canned food item to receive a free ticket (limit 3 tickets).

There are two sessions of Homebrew for Hunger, 12-3pm and 4-7pm. Tickets for a session of are $20 in advance and available at www.homebrewforhunger.com or at Fifth Season Gardening’s Carrboro or Raleigh locations. If any tickets remain, they will be available at the door on the day of the event for $25. Attendees must be 21 or older. West End Public is located at 462 West Franklin Street in Downtown Chapel Hill.

Homebrew for Hunger is sponsored by Fifth Season Gardening Co. and Harris, Inc. with silver sponsors including The Splinter Group, Bull City Burger & Brewery, Fullsteam, Carolina Brewery and West End Public.

For tickets, more information and a continually updated list of brewers and beers scheduled to appear, please visit www.homebrewforhunger.com.