WHEELING — This summer’s Mountaineer Brewfest will benefit a nonprofit that has spent more than six decades on Wheeling Island helping those in need.

The Brewfest committee announced Tuesday morning that The House of the Carpenter will be the recipient of the funds raised from the annual event. The Mountaineer Brewfest, set for Aug. 16 at Wheeling’s Heritage Port, chooses an organization each year to benefit from the proceeds.

Brewfest Founder and President Jeff Hayes said, looking at the House of Carpenter over the years, he’s seen the help it does with floods and the work it does for the community.

“It’s just somebody that you recognize as a kind of a staple, kind of a foundational leader,” he said, “and I think that’s why the committee came toward them.”

Hayes added it’s always been the mission and foundation of the brewfest committee to have the proceeds go to a charitable cause.

For more than 60 years, the House of Carpenter has stood as a beacon of hope on Wheeling Island. Launched by the United Methodist Church to combat rising poverty in the Upper Ohio Valley, the nonprofit has grown to now serve more than 1,400 individuals every week.

The House of Carpenter addresses both urgent needs and long-term transformation.

Core services include a food pantry, thrift shop and utility assistance essential lifelines for families facing hardship. It also has been a vital disaster relief and recovery hub for Wheeling Island, most recently playing a critical role in supporting residents during the 2024 floods.

The Rev. Michael Linger, executive director of the House of the Carpenter, it’s exciting to be chosen as the recipient this year, and he and his team feel like it’s a great privilege and honor because Brewfest has done so much for a lot of charities in the Ohio Valley.

He added Brewfest is a great event to introduce the House of Carpenter to people who don’t know what it is. One common phrase Linger said he hears is, “We didn’t know you did that.”

This event is an opportunity for the House of Carpenter to share what it does with the community and expand people’s grasp of the work it does, he said.

Linger said the proceeds from Brewfest will go toward the food pantry, school supplies, backpack programs and more.

“One of the things we’ve been fortunate is that we can constantly adapt to growing and changing views,” Linger said. “So that’s what we’re working on right now, is we’re looking at our pathways to success, which is our job exploration program for youth. We’re putting that together for this summer. We’re already looking at school supplies for Madison, and a backpack program for the elementary schools in Ohio County. So there’s a lot going on and there’s always something new, expanding.”

The Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack will be the Mountaineer Brewfest’s title sponsor for the 11th straight year. The organization has made significant contributions to various charities through its “Game Changer” program, which is funded through casino patrons, extra change and donations, and its “Wheeling Island Sharing Hope” program, that focuses on giving back to the community.

“Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack is proud to be a title sponsor of the 11th annual Mountaineer Brewfest,” Kim Florence, president and general manager of Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, said. “The Mountaineer Brewfest has become a festival favorite in Wheeling showcasing our talented West Virginia craft brewers while raising funds for our local charities. We are excited to be a part of it.”

This year’s festival will feature 18 brewers and one cidery. Entertainment for the evening will include Ledfoot Lover from the Ohio Valley at 4:30 p.m., Buckwild From Pittsburgh at 6:30 p.m. and headliners The Dundies from Lynchburg, Virginia, at 8:30 p.m. Kanawha will perform during the VIP hour at 3 p.m.

Tickets for the 2025 Mountaineer Brewfest go on sale June 1. VIP entry for Brewfest begins at 3 p.m. and general admission entry at 4 p.m. and the festival ending at 10 p.m. People must be 21 years old with a valid photo ID to enter. Special early ticket pricing available June 1 through July 31. General admission tickets are $35, VIP tickets are $70 and VIP plus Thursday pairing is $80. Tickets prices increase after July 31, with general admission at $45 and VIP at $80.

Tickets can be purchased on Mountaineer Brewfest’s website, Facebook page, EventBrite or at Yourkovich & Associates, located at 246 Kruger St. in Wheeling.

People can learn more information by contacting Hayes at 304-281-9482 or jeff@mountaineerbrewfest.com.

Hayes is excited to welcome back both patrons and brewers to the event.

“There’s a fellowship there amongst them, a fellowship there with our committee,” Hayes said. “Just seeing the people as I walk through the event. You can tell people have a good time.”