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Names for the handcrafted brews, meads and ciders at the annual Kettleheads HomebrewFest have often come with clever or fun names.
For 2025, the 14th year for the event, one brewer has given “Happy Gilmore”-themed names to all eight of the drinks he will be offering. There will be a beer called “Hockey Player, Not A Golfer,” “Shooter,” “Just Tap It In” and others.
There will be almost 40 brews at the Saturday, Sept. 13 event. A lot of those are beers, said Kettleheads President Jason Rich, but there’s also ciders and meads (wine made from honey).
“So there’s something for everybody. If you don’t like beer, there’s other things. If you like beer but want to try other things, expand your palate, then this is the perfect time,” he said.
There will be everything from IPAs and stouts to sour beers, Belgium and German styles.
The HomebrewFest is the Kettleheads’ way of showcasing the hobby they love.
“We think it’s just the greatest hobby on earth, and these are people that are your neighbors. We’re from all walks of life. We have doctors, engineers, factory workers, restaurant workers. It doesn’t matter what you do, it’s what you like to do and we like to brew beer,” Rich stated.
The 2025 Kettleheads HomebrewFest is 5 to 9 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13 in downtown Warsaw. Tickets are $30 in advance and can be purchased online at www.ccsgives.com (click on “Events” and then “Kettleheads HomebrewFest”). Tickets will be available the day of the event for $35.
Attendees must be at least 21 years old. Designated drivers get in free but they don’t get a wristband to sample anything.
All proceeds benefit Combined Community Services, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to meeting the immediate needs and supporting families on their journey toward self-sufficiency, according to a news release provided by Rich.
“We don’t keep any of the profit. It all goes to Combined Community Services. Our motto is ‘Brew Good, Do Good,’ and we try to brew good beer and do good for the community,” Rich stated.
In the 13 previous years, Kettleheads raised over $120,000 for CCS. The goal every year is to raise as much money as they can.
Food trucks will be on hand for food purchases. Take Action Tattoo will be doing a drawing for some tattoo work time, he said.
Anyone who is interested in joining the Kettleheads can talk to Rich or any other member at the HomebrewFest.
“It’s just a great hobby. You can make it as difficult of a hobby as you want. You can keep it simple, or spend a lot of money and make it as difficult as you want. It’s just all what you like. I’m a simple brewer,” he said.
