Jimmy D 2008

Oops! They Did It Again!

Th 3rd Annual Jimmy D LoveFest was everything it was cracked up to be. The Harvest Moon Brewpub in New Brunswick was--once again--wall-to-wall with supporters of hero Jimmy D'Heron and his brothers in arms. The cold temperatures did not negatively impact attendance, and the heated outside tent may have been warmer at times than the interior of The Moon, which had to keep its doors open to accommodate the throngs who came to pay their respects to the fallen New Brunswick firefighter who paid the supreme sacrifice by single-handedly saving fifteen people from a fiery death four years ago.

As predicted, space inside the Moon was at a premium as Jimmy D's Firehouse Red Ale and other fine Harvest Moon brews flowed steadily to slake the thirsts of those who came to pay tribute. The Middlesex County Pipes and Drum Corps regaled the crowd with musical favorites and patriotic tunes to honor Jimmy D, his fellow firefighters and those who perform so nobly in the service of the nation's military.

Again, Matt McCord's brew served as a lubricant, not to drunkenness, but to fund the Connecticut Children's Burn Center, one of Jimmy D'Heron's favorite charities. Representatives of the Burn Center were on hand to witness the outpouring of love, respect and emotion that accompanies this annual George St. event.

It's truly a worthwhile effort which brings folks together from across the state to honor a hero's memory.

The 2008 version of Jimmy D's Firehouse Red was a tad different from past versions, exhibiting a maltier, sweeter character with a reduced hop presence. An infusion of Crystal malts in this year's edition made for a very drinkable, very satisfying brew
which had the heads of beer cognoscenti like Kevin Trayner nodding in appreciation. And with a huge portion of the proceeds going to that Burn Center, the quaffing not only tasted good, but served a good cause. More than $37,000 had been generated for the Burn Center prior to 2008, and it appeared that the $40,000 mark would be surpassed by day's end.

If you missed today's gala, you still have a chance to quaff for the common good. To the credit of the Moon's ownership, Firehouse Red is available year-round, and the donations to the Burn Center continue apace throughout the year.