RadCraft Discontinues Status as Agency of Record for Bonfire Brewing
A statement about Bonfire Brewing from RadCraft founder and CEO Emily Hutto.
Photo courtesy EJ Dilley Photography
EAGLE, CO— After nearly five years as Bonfire Brewing’s agency of record, RadCraft announced today the discontinuation of its work with the brewery.
Emily Hutto, RadCraft founder and CEO, issued the following statement about the company’s relationship with Bonfire Brewing.
It’s been an exceptional honor to work directly with Bonfire Brewing’s co-founders Andy and Amanda Jessen as the brewery agency of record since 2017. They initially reached out through a referral from Western Distributing, a connection that I am deeply grateful for.
I am humbled to tell the Bonfire Brewing story; however I recognize that it is fundamentally impossible to do so without the inclusion of both Andy and Amanda. Since Andy’s tragic death in an avalanche in Silverton on February 1, 2021, the Bonfire board of directors president has prohibited co-founder Amanda Jessen, our primary contact for all brewery communications, from managing and executing company operations. This prevents RadCraft from effectively executing Bonfire’s media relations, and more importantly it does not recognize Amanda as an integral part of the company narrative— a depravity for which we do not stand.
To my friend and my sounding board Andy, thank you for sharing your story and your passions with us at RadCraft. Without your leadership and friendship we would not be in so many places— including this one of defending your honor.
It has been the privilege of my career to be included in the BonFamily. To each and every one, thank you for your contributions and loyalty to the Eagle County and Colorado craft beer communities.
May we always gather ‘round.
Going forward, media inquiring about Bonfire Brewing should reach out to the brewery directly.
Celebration of Life For Eagle Residents Seth Bossung, Andy Jessen, and Adam Palmer to Live Stream Sunday, February 28
In celebration of the lives of Eagle, Colorado residents Seth Bossung, Andy Jessen, and Adam Palmer, friends and family and the Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC) present a livestream musical tribute this Sunday, February 28 featuring Custom 20, the Olora Brothers, Hardscrabble, and several other local musicians.
EAGLE, CO— In celebration of the lives of Eagle, Colorado residents Seth Bossung, Andy Jessen, and Adam Palmer, friends and family and the Vilar Performing Arts Center (VPAC) present a livestream musical tribute this Sunday, February 28 featuring Custom 20, the Olora Brothers, Hardscrabble, and several other local musicians.
The loss of Bossung, Jessen, and Palmer is felt deeply in their families and the Eagle community. All were husbands, sons, and stewards of the environment. Bossung worked in the Eagle County Sustainable Communities Department, was an Energy Smart Colorado home auditor, architect and LEAD specialist, a fiddle player, and the father of two. Palmer served as Director of the Eagle County Sustainable Communities Department, a founding member Hardscrabble, Olora Bros, Six Penny, and Custom 20, a town council member, a Holy Cross Energy Board member, long time volunteer for the Hardscrabble Trails Coalition, and the father of two as well. Jessen, who co-owned Bonfire Brewing and managed the Bonfire Block Party with his wife Amanda, served as Eagle mayor pro tem, a sponsor of the Eagle River Park project, a bowling and softball enthusiast, a Subaru (Brat) zealot, and a proud dog dad.
Fifteen local musicians will perform at this benefit concert, for which donations will benefit Vail Mountain Rescue Group, San Juan County Search & Rescue, and the Bossung, Jessen, and Palmer families. Elli Varas, Custom 20, the Olora Brothers, and Hardscrabble will perform throughout the evening. This event will be live streamed for free on the Vilar Performing Arts Center’s YouTube channel on Sunday beginning at 5pm, and all viewers are encouraged to donate through MobileCause. Both the streaming and donation link can be accessed at vilarpac.org.
“We believe that music and the arts can help us cope, celebrate and express just a glimmer of our deep gratitude and admiration for these men,” says Owen Hutchinson, the Executive Director at VPAC. “Each of them made such a lasting and positive impact in our community, and we hope this live streamed event will offer those who knew them an evening to reflect, remember and rejoice all they brought to our lives.”
No in-person tickets are available to the public for this event. We hope everyone will join us from the comfort of their homes as we live stream the event from the VPAC stage.
On Monday, March 1 a local restaurant effort to raise funds for these families through Bonfire Brewing beer, Gather ‘Round Week, will launch at more than 20 venues across the county.
VPAC Celebration of Life Event Page
Press Contact: Emily Hutto, coop@radcraftbeer.com
About VPAC
Located in the heart of Colorado's Beaver Creek Resort, the Vilar Performing Arts Center is a 535-seat theatre, operated by the Vail Valley Foundation, which presents a variety of year-round performances including Broadway musicals, concerts, family entertainment, comedy, dance, classical music and more. Visit vilarpac.org for more.
Eagle Valley Restaurants Present Gather ‘Round Week in Celebration and Support of Avalanche Victims from Eagle, Colorado
Cameron Douglas who owns Montauk and El Segundo has organized a county-wide effort for local restaurants to support the families of avalanche victims through Bonfire Brewing beer.
EAGLE, CO— In response to the loss of three of Eagle’s community members in an avalanche in Silverton, Cameron Douglas who owns Montauk and El Segundo, has organized a county-wide effort for local restaurants to support the families of these victims through the liquid that brings us all together: Beer. Gather ‘Round Week, named after the Bonfire Brewing slogan and deep community impact in Eagle and beyond, will launch March 1 and go through March 7.
More than 20 restaurants and counting have committed to donating proceeds from Bonfire Brewing beers sold back to the Bossung, Jessen, and Palmer families during the first week of March. They are listed below and updated daily.
“This effort is about Eagle coming together to support these families who are anchors in our community,” Douglas says of Gather ‘Round Week. Douglas and his wife Heather have lived and worked in the valley for nearly 20 years, and experienced the power of the community to rally around its people. “From bikes to beers to conservation, these are three people who helped make Eagle cool. They’ve always given back, and now it’s our turn to do the same,” he adds.
“After this news broke, Cameron reached out to me with this idea having already gotten restaurants on board. Him taking this initiative shows just how much our community really cares about everyone in it,” says Bonfire’s Mountain Ale Ambassador Doug Fenske. “These restaurants and bars have always shown us an incredible amount of support throughout our 10 years in business, and now more than ever have shown us what it means to gather ‘round.”
Cameron Douglas and his team are managing donations for Gather ‘Round Week. Restaurants interested in participating should contact montaukvail@gmail.com.
To purchase Bonfire Beer to sell at your bar or restaurant, contact Doug Fenske at doug@bonfirebrewing.com or (970) 456-1491.
Please contact Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com with any media inquiries about Gather ‘Round Week or Bonfire Brewing.
Assembly
Blue Moose
Boneyard
Charter
Chophouse
Color Coffee
Craftsmen
Dusty Boot
EL Segundo
E Town
Fall Line
Garfinkles
Grand Hyatt Vail
Lancelot
Landing Merchantile
La Nonna
La Tour
Los Amigos
Matsuhisa
Met Kitchen
Minturn Saloon
Moe's Eagle
Moe's Vail
Montauk
Mountain Standard
Northside/Benderz
Pickup’s Pizza
Red Lion
Russels
Sebastian
Sonnenalp
Sweet Leaf Pioneer
Sweet Basil
Vendettas
ABOUT MONTAUK AND EL SEGUNDO
Owned by Cameron Douglas, Montauk has been a Lionshead institution since it opened in 1987 and its sister company El Segundo has been thriving since its opening in 2019. Both culinary programs are managed by Chef Partner Dimitri Souvorin. Find the restaurants at montaukvail.com and elsegundovail.com.
ABOUT BONFIRE BREWING
Craft enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers gather around Bonfire Brewing in Eagle, Colorado, where the beers are driven by quality, curiosity, and community. Founded in 2010, Bonfire continues on their path of sustainable growth with cans of their year-round beers available in liquor stores and restaurants across Colorado. Gather ‘round Bonfire online at bonfirebrewing.com.
Bonfire Brewing Statement: February 18, 2021
The Bonfire Brewing team is humbled by the Eagle and Colorado beer communities that have offered support after the loss of Co-Owner Andy Jessen in an avalanche in Silverton.
EAGLE, CO— The Bonfire Brewing team is humbled by the Eagle and Colorado beer communities that have offered support after the loss of Co-Owner Andy Jessen in an avalanche in Silverton. These volunteer and fundraising efforts have helped the brewery maintain operations to continue serving its community during this time of shock and grief.
In response to an outpouring of local support and to supplement unexpected expenses, Bonfire launched this GoFundMe campaign.
In addition to contributing to this GoFundMe campaign, fans and friends of Colorado beer can support the brewery during this time by purchasing Bonfire beer at the tasting room in Eagle, at restaurants, or in liquor stores across Bonfire’s distribution footprint along the I-70 Corridor and across Colorado’s Front Range. They can also purchase merchandise at the brewery or through the online store and send cards to PO Box 5276.
Last week, residents of the town of Eagle honored Andy and fellow adventurers Adam Palmer and Seth Bossung with a gathering at Eagle’s River Park that Bonfire co-sponsored. The Town of Eagle also resurrected the now notorious Christmas penis monument that Andy adamantly crusaded to keep erect in effort to “Keep Eagle Weird” last year.
Bonfire Brewing expresses deep gratitude for the Colorado Avalanche Information Center (CAIC), San Juan County Search and Rescue, and both the towns of Silverton and Eagle.
“There aren’t enough words to say thank you to Eagle, the Colorado beer community, and beyond,” Amanda Jessen says. “We’re managing this crisis and our grief as best we know how, and deeply appreciate the grace, space, and support.”
Bonfire Brewing is working with the Town of Eagle to livestream a charitable concert and memorial service for Andy, Adam, and Seth on February 28. More details will be announced later this week.
The Bonfire Brewing team and Jessen family do not have additional comments at this time. Please direct all media inquiries to Emily Hutto at coop@radcraftbeer.com.
ABOUT BONFIRE BREWING
Craft enthusiasts and outdoor adventurers gather around Bonfire Brewing in Eagle, Colorado, where the beers are driven by quality, curiosity, and community. Founded in 2010, Bonfire continues on their path of sustainable growth with cans of their year-round beers available in liquor stores and restaurants across Colorado. Gather ‘round Bonfire online at bonfirebrewing.com.