Chili-Beer Festival Makes Big Splash

Part of the legacy left by the late actor Paul Newman, that of giving seriously ill children and their families an opportunity for ​“a different kind of healing,” was buoyed Saturday through the 9th annual Chili Cook-Off and Beer Festival fund-raising event organized by Delaney’s Restaurant in the heart of Westville’s historic district.

“The Hole in the Wall Gang” an organization founded by the actor in 1988, makes it possible for children to experience the ​“transformational spirit and friendships that go hand in hand with camp” — free of charge. The organization has become one of the favored charities of Delaney’s Restaurant and Tap Room owner Peter Gremse, who has sponsored charity fundraisers on the restaurant grounds for the last 9 years. 

Gremse, who also owns the nearby Stone Hearth Restaurant said that last year’s event raised a total of $21,000 — $12,500 for The Hole in the Wall Camp, enough for 5 children to attend camp, and additional funds for the Ronald McDonald House and Love 146, an organization dedicated to ending child trafficking and exploitation. Preliminary calculations show an uptick in this year’s charitable giving to around $27,000, according to a Delaney’s staff member.

“This year, the rain and overcast skies worked in our favor,” said Gremse acknowledging the overflow crowd. Many previous events, though successful, were plagued by uncomfortable weather and extreme heat according to the restauranteur. 

The organizational aspects of the event begin in January when invitations are sent out to sponsors. It takes a solid two weeks of planning and coordination just prior to the event date. Gremse said that beer served by the scores of participating breweries in the taste-fest is donated, as is the time and hard work of his restaurant staffers: ​“They volunteer to do it — no one is paid for the day.”

Among the returning attractions this year was the musical act headed by musician Rob Leonard (at left in photo), owner and brewer at Woodbridge’s New England Brewing Company. Leonard is among the perennial volunteers who lend their talents to the festival each year. 

A familiar and popular attraction was the carnival-like dunk tank. On-target pitches that hit a release plate, sent bikini-clad restaurant workers plummeting into the tank; a transparent panel revealing the graceless dunking, much to the amusement of the pitchers and audience.

Several long tables were bedecked with hefty prizes, part of raffle of goods and offerings and a big part of the fund raising effort. Volunteers, dressed in bright pink tank tops, collected money and dispensed raffle tickets and smiles throughout the afternoon. 

Across the tent-covered parking lot, plumes of smoke rose from ​“Joe Grate’s Pig Roast and Barbecue.” Grill master Gerard Grate, whose father Joe sells barbecue outside of Yale’s Ingalls Rink each day, wore an impressive black cowboy hat as he worked the massive grill. He estimated that over a period of a few hours he had grilled up to 30 racks of ribs, and 15 whole chickens. Meats were donated by Delaney’s with proceeds from the sales of the barbecue going to the charity fund.

Advice to Chili Lovers next year: Arrive early. Trays of chili stretched down the full length of the tent, as did the long lines waiting to sample the various recipes. With so many filling multiple cups, it was easy to see why some were left disappointed and chili-less. Gremse said that the chili, like everything else, is donated by restaurants and individuals who are required to prepare the chili in a ​“licensed” kitchen. In the case of Delaney’s, chili cooks were allowed to use the kitchen over a period of several days under the watchful eyes of Delaney’s own chef.

In no short supply, was the beer that flowed from over 60 breweries from all regions of the state and country, with many local micro-breweries contributing to the 141 different beers represented. Meghan Zachry, of the ​“Two Roads Brewing Company” Connecticut’s largest brewery based in Stratford, Connecticut, said ​“the craft beer industry is a tight-knit community that works together and is devoted to building a growing craft-beer scene.” The Two Roads Company name is drawn from the Robert Frost poem ​“The Road Not Taken” because ​“we want to take the road less traveled in life, and in beer,” said the company representative.

Representatives of each brewery at the festival had compelling stories about their respective company’s founding and had unique beer names to prove it: ​“Hazed & Confused” a dry-hopped ale out of Boulder Colorado, ​“Speaking in Tongues” and ​“How Rye I Am” from the ​“Stubborn Beauty Brewer” in Middletown, Connecticut. ​“Beaver Beer,” ​“Big Foot Ale,” ​“Flying Jenny” — the names were as varied as the styles of beers. The culture of craft beer making is evolving quickly and a creative approach to marketing is an essential ingredient in ensuring success for many of the brewing start-ups according to CEO Bryon Turner of Connecticut Beer Trail. ​“It’s an exciting time for brewing in Connecticut” said the company’s founder.

Festival goer Mona Salano of Wallingford, who attended the festival with a group of friends, favored the more fruit-infused line of beverages. Sampling the ​“Charter Oak” Watermelon Ale, Solano said the taste reminded her of Jolly Rancher candy. She said she ​“likes the vibe of the festival, the beers, and the fact that it’s all for a great cause. More than anything, that’s why we’re here.”