Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

Every time I do the Brew Fest dinner, it gets better. This year was no different. While I made some changes to streamline the plating, the real difference came with the number of volunteers who showed up to work hard on the day of the event. So many of the events that are held in Haines rely on the help of volunteers. Without them, fun and commerce would not happen.

Special thanks go out to my wife Rachel, my good Friend Kevin Comer, my boss/friend Leah Wagner, The Amandas and the fair staff, Matilda Rogers, Lisa and Megan Schwartz, Wylie Betz and his onesie, my friends who just keep showing up for me at every turn: Marnie Hartman, Jessica Killeen, Rachel Saitzyk, Giselle Miller (whom I will miss), Marley Horner and Caroline Hankins, and all the rest of the servers and platers that showed up to kick some butt.

Also, thanks to Dave Stickler for quail eggs, Harry Reitze for the crab, Sheri of the staff at Olerud’s, and Rose from Shoreline Wild Salmon for her beautiful coho. The Beer Fest and The Brewer’s Dinner started off as an idea, mostly thanks to Paul Wheeler and Jeanne Kitayama. It came to fruition through the will of some local beer enthusiasts, and it draws so much fun and good business for this town. If you have a great idea, talk about it, make it happen, and it might become something special, something indelible.

Thanks again,

Your chef, Travis Kukull