Beer passport helping raise money for charities

Clark County — Local beer lovers can purchase a new $5 passport and take it to breweries around Clark County to get stamped, all while helping to raise money for local charities, including Northwest Battle Buddies, a nonprofit group that provides service dogs for veterans. Pour of Discovery launched this year thanks to Cody Gray, organizer of Vancouver Brewfest. Gray originally sent out 500 passports to various breweries, and recently donated $1,500 to Battle Buddies. From each passport sold, $3 will go local charities. Along with checking out different breweries, the passport-holders can earn T-shirts, hats and growler fills. “The reaction to them has been great,” Amy Seibel, co-owner of Ghost Runners Brewery in Vancouver, said in a release from Brewfest. “When we started out, each brewer got 50 passports, and we sold out almost right away. People are digging them.” The festival, which runs Aug. 12-14 in Esther Short Park, released 500 more passports, which can be picked up at local breweries. For a list of breweries with passports and other information about Pour of Discovery, go to www.pourofdiscovery.com