It’s a new month, and time for a new featured brewery. This June, both of our locations are featuring the Star Hill Brewery from Charlottesville, Virginia. Star Hill is growing quickly with their award-winning beers and a revamped, new logo. We will start the month with four selections on draft: Northern Lights, Grateful Pale, the Love, and the Reviver.

The Northern Lights is an IPA with a floral aroma. It is made with two row, caramel, Munich, and wheat malted barley. Star Hill uses ale yeast, along with Cascade, Willamette, and Columbus kettle hops. The result is an amber appearance that sits at 6.5% ABV, bitter flavor, and a citrus-floral finish.

The Grateful Pale derives its name from, as one might assume, the Grateful Dead. It is an APA made with two row, wheat, and caramel malted barley. This beer also uses ale yeast, but the kettle hops are Chinook, Centennial, Topaz, and Cascade. The Grateful Pale Ale rings up at 4.7% ABV with a light gold color and citrus aroma. This beer is not as bitter as the Northern Lights, but has a sharp taste, as pale ales do.

The Love is an unfiltered hefeweizen, which is a type of wheat beer. Star Hill uses two row wheat, and Munich malted barley. The yeast is Bavarian wheat beer yeast, and the kettle hops are Hallertau. With a golden color, sweet taste, and spicy finish, the Love is easy to drink. It has an ABV at 4.6%. This one is sure to be a favorite.

The Reviver is a Red IPA, and Star Hill’s spring seasonal. This is an interesting blend between a Red Ale and an IPA. It is made with Pilsner, wheat, crystal, and chocolate malted barley, and uses ale yeast. The kettle hops are Citra, Amarillo, Simcoe, and Columbus. The Reviver is also made with Mosaic, Citra, and Amarillo dry hops.

As you know, June is a special month because it begins during spring and ends in the summer. In the same spirit, we will be swapping out the Reviver for Star Hill’s summer seasonal, Soul Shine.

Soul Shine, named after the Government Mule song, is an American take on a Belgian-style Pale Ale. It is made with Pilsner, wheat, and caramel malted barley and ale yeast. The kettle hops are Falconer’s flight, Simcoe, Cascade, and Willamette. The Soul Shine is also finished with dry hops, which consist of Falconer’s Flight, Simcoe, Cascade, and Columbus. The result is a golden colored, crisp beer with tropical fruit aromas and a spicy finish. The ABV is 5.2%.

Join us for pint night this month (June 26) to be among the first ever to try a new release by Star Hill. You’ll also get to keep a Star Hill pint glass. We are looking forward to these new beers from a growing regional craft brewery. Come join us on our patio to try the new pints and enjoy the warm weather.

Nothing shines better in the sunshine than the colors of a well brewed beer. That’s certainly what Saw Works Brewing Company is hoping for this spring with the cloudy gold shine of their new Sonic Wit.

Created for the Big Ears Festival, the Sonic Wit was meant to be stimulating on a hot day of drinking. Will, the Head Brewer at Saw Works, explained how the Sonic Wit was inspired by Icelandic ales and Belgian wheat beers with the intention of keeping the unfiltered look and notes of orange while drawing out the wheat to be replaced by Tennessee favorites, rye mash and honey malt.

The result is an unfiltered American ale with an orange-citrus forward note and a smooth honey rye finish that moves quickly across the tongue. This beer is light, easy to drink, and can easily be enjoyed at Big Ears or on a patio in the warm weather.

Luckily, you’ll have a chance to try this beer too, even if you won’t be attending Big Ears this year. The Tomato Head will be one of the only places featuring the Sonic Wit, as part of our Saw Works lineup for our featured brewery of the month, and will be a light orange zest for pairing with a salad, chicken, or chocolate desserts. We’ll tap the keg of this very special beer on Thursday, March 26.

Just as it was intended, the Sonic Wit is a great pairing for food, sunshine, and great music. A number of the Big Ears creators actually helped in the brewing of this beer, which just goes to show the local bonds of our small city that pull together to show that Knoxville has culture worth taste.

Have we got something special planned for fans of Tennessee Brew Works on Friday, February 27. When you purchase any Tennessee Brew Works on draft, you get to keep the pint glass! This is a perfect opportunity to try a flight of beers from this Nashville brewery at our location in The Gallery of Knoxville, or check out our brand new bar stools from Holler Design at Market Square.

You’ll have the chance to try the “Spring Gig” from Tennessee Brew Works: Walk The Lime. This Tennessee Wheat Ale (ABV 5.4%, IBU 16) is uniquely brewed with 100% wheat! This tart and tropical all wheat beer is lightly bittered. They dose with fresh lime zest and then dry hop. It starts with lime on the front of the tongue and nose, but finishes with peach, passion fruit, and watermelon. Perfect for getting you in the mood for springtime on the patio.

It’s an all day event so come down for lunch or celebrate the end of the work week (and hopefully the snow) by stopping in for drinks and dinner. Both locations open at 11am.

Final month of Loving Spoonful fundraisers benefit the Love Kitchen.

“Never take the last piece of bread. Someone may come by in need of it” is one of the three principles guiding the Love Kitchen for more than 27 years. And in that spirit, we ask Knoxvillians to break bread with the Love Kitchen as The Tomato Head hosts its final month of Loving Spoonful fundraisers for 2015.

Join the Love Kitchen and The Tomato Head each Tuesday in December as they host fundraisers with a portion of the proceeds from all food and drink sales (beer & wine included) generated during lunch and dinner at both Tomato Head locations going directly to The Love Kitchen.

“The Love Kitchen is very excited to partner with The Tomato Head to raise money to help feed the people of our community. Since the Love Kitchen has no paid staff, 100% of the money donated goes directly to helping the people who need it the most,” said Patrick Riggins, President of the Love Kitchen.

On Tuesday, December 16, both Tomato Head locations host a pint night featuring RJ Rockers Brewing Company. When a customer orders any RJ Rockers on draft, they’ll get a free RJ Rockers pint glass while supplies last.

“Because they spread love and kindness through food, the Love Kitchen was an obvious choice to be our December Loving Spoonful partner,” said Mahasti Vafaie Tomato Head owner. “The fact that they are so immensely successful through an all-volunteer workforce means that nearly 100% of all donations go directly to homeless and homebound folks in our community.”

On February 14, 1986; the Love Kitchen first served 22 people in a small church in east Knoxville. Today, the Love Kitchen has its own building about 2 blocks from where it started and serves over 3,000 meals each week with more than eighty percent of those meals being delivered to homebound recipients.

For more information or interviews, please contact Patrick Riggins, The Love Kitchen President, at 865-546-3248 and thelovekitchen@gmail.com, or Michael Kuczmarski, The Tomato Head’s Marketing Director, at marketing@thetomatohead.com and 865-850-2318.

To donate directly to the Love Kitchen, visit http://www.thelovekitchen.org/donate/

About The Love Kitchen

The Love Kitchen, founded by sisters Helen Ashe and Ellen Turner, provides meals, clothing and emergency food packages to homebound, homeless and unemployed persons. The organization has no paid staff; all donations go to those who need it most. Their ultimate goal is to provide nourishment for anyone who is hungry and to establish a community center to serve as a safe haven supporting area children and their families.

About The Tomato Head

Opened in 1990, The Tomato Head is committed to helping the community by supporting sustainable agriculture, giving to East Tennessee nonprofits, and recycling its packaging waste. Its charitable donation program, Loving Spoonful, is a partnership between East Tennessee nonprofits and the restaurant. It consists of a series of Tuesday fundraisers with a percentage of the proceeds raised going to our community partner of the month.

We believe in the power of community.

Supporting our neighbors is part of our responsibility not only as business people but also as citizens of our city. As such, The Tomato Head is committed to teaming up with East Tennessee organizations to enrich the lives of the less fortunate in our community.

We ask you to join us every month as we break bread and raise a pint for a deserving local organization by attending one of our Loving Spoonful fundraisers.

Loving Spoonful is a partnership between East Tennessee nonprofits, regional craft breweries, Flour Head Bakery and The Tomato Head. We’ll hold a series of fundraisers every month at both Tomato Head locations with a percentage of the proceeds raised going to our community partner.

We launched our program in February 2014 with proceeds benefiting one of Knoxville’s biggest supporters of local culture as well as being a valuable independent voice – WUTK 90.3 UT’s College of Rock. WUTK receives zero financial support for the University of Tennessee and funds were raised for a much needed audio board. Blue Pants Brewery kicked off our year by supplying delicious craft beer from Madison, AL for our WUTK special events.

The East Tennessee nonprofits we’ve celebrated in the first half of 2014 include Junior Achievement in March with Highland Brewing Company as our brewery partner,  Appalachian Mountain Bike Club and Foothills Brewing Company in April, Beardsley Community Farm and French Broad Brewing Company, Ijams Nature Center and Turtle Anarchy in June. July’s charitable partner is the Clarence Brown Theatre with Yazoo Brewing Company from Nashville as our tasty craft beer provider.

We have future fundraisers planned for Imagination Library/Knox County Libraries in August, Friends of Literacy in September, Childhelp USA in October, The Muse of Knoxville in November, and we end the year in December with fundraisers for Knoxville’s favorite set of twins, Helen and Ellen from the Love Kitchen.

Why the change?

By concentrating our energies on one nonprofit per month, we are better able to measure the impact of our giving as well as direct more money to and create greater awareness of each organization. Your continued support of The Tomato Head will further our charitable giving.

Each Tuesday of the month, a portion of the proceeds from all food and drink sales generated during lunch and dinner at both Tomato Head locations goes directly to nonprofit partner of the month.

GIVING POLICY

Because of the significant number of donation requests we receive, we have put the following criteria and guidelines in place.

To be eligible for participation in our charitable giving program, preference is given to secular 501(c)3 groups that maintain a focus within the following areas:

• Women & Children – Dedicated to the well-being of women and children with a particular interest in serving children with special needs, survivors of domestic violence, or at-risk populations in our community.
• Arts, Culture & Humanities – Focused on preserving, commemorating and celebrating the artistic and cultural heritage of East Tennessee, including studio artists, performance art groups, public broadcasters, schools and museums.
• Human Services – Attend to the housing needs of the homeless, feeding the hungry, or providing literacy programs for children and adults.
• Environment – Promote conservation and sustainable management of land, water, plant and energy resources; promote preservation and appreciation of environment, including outdoor activities.

WE DO NOT FUND

• Educational Institutions (Exceptions are made for organizations within a university.)
• Endowment Campaigns
• Direct grants or scholarships to individuals
• Political causes, candidates, organizations or campaigns
• Advertising in charitable publications
• Sports Organizations
• Labor Groups
• Conferences, galas and charity balls

HOW TO BECOME A TOMATO HEAD PARTNER:

All applications submitted must include the following information:

• Organization’s Name, Address and Office Phone Number (we do not mail to P.O. Box addresses)
• Organization’s IRS 501(c)3 number
• Organization’s mission statement
• Current roster of officers and board members
• Summary of past year’s program service accomplishments with demonstrative results from previous fundraisers. For example, donating $10 provides (x) amount of services or feeds (x) number of people. See how Friends of Literacy describe their accomplishments (http://friendsofliteracy.org/donate/).
• Three (3) most recent Form 990
• Contact Person’s Name, Phone Number and Email Address

WHAT WE EVALUATE

Each charity is evaluated on two bases – alignment of charitable mission with our values as described above and the following financial performance metrics; these include but are not limited to program expenses, administrative expenses, fundraising expenses and fundraising efficiency. Financial efficiency metrics are based on criteria and benchmarks set by bbb.org, charitynavigator.org, givewell.org and guidestar.org.

WHO TO CONTACT

All requests must be submitted in writing on the organization’s letterhead (mail or email) to:

The Tomato Head

Attn: Michael Kuczmarski

12 Market Square
Knoxville, TN 37902

Or, submit your proposal to marketing@thetomatohead.com (Attn: Michael Kuczmarski)

The application deadline is 5PM EST, October 1 of current year to be considered for the next year’s partnership. No phone or in-person requests will be accepted other than materials dropped off for consideration.

Celebrate the 40th Anniversary Season of the Clarence Brown Theatre by joining us for these special fundraisers throughout July. The funds raised will be directed back into providing a cultural resource for both the University of Tennessee and the East Tennessee community.

A portion of the proceeds generated at each event goes directly to the Clarence Brown Theatre.

• All month (Breaking Bread Fundraiser) Proceeds from the sale of any type of Flour Head Bakery bread at both Tomato Head locations goes to the theater.
• July 22 (Pint Night Fundraiser)Featuring Yazoo Brewing Company‘s Summer Seasonal wheat ale. The CBT receives a portion of the proceeds from the sale of every draft beer from any brewery.
• July 29 (Sandwich Day Fundraiser) Both Tomato Head locations will offer a special Clarence Brown Theatre sandwich.

You can also register to win TWO 8-show Preview Night subscriptions, $75 Tomato Head gift card plus a Clarence Brown Theatre swag bag including a canvas tote, pint glass, travel mug, umbrella, and T-shirt.  Also included in our giveaway is a brewery tour of Yazoo for a guest and a friend, and two hotel rooms in Nashville. ($1000 value)

Stop by either Tomato Head location today and ask your server how to enter. Drawing will be held July 31.

“We are excited to work with the CBT as our July Loving Spoonful partner. CBT is an extraordinary contributor to the cultural scene in Knoxville,” said Scott Partin, Tomato Head co-owner. “Its annual play calendar spans the breadth of live theater, from drama to comedy with a blend of shows that can entertain the whole family or the serious theater lover. Institutions like the CBT add an incalculable richness to life in Knoxville.”

Learn how you can make a donation today by clicking on the CBT logo.

Donate to the Clarence Brown Theatre today!

The Tomato Head celebrates one of Knoxville’s oldest and largest parks.

We invite you to join us throughout June as we fundraise for Knoxville’s most beloved park, Ijams Nature Center. Ijams offers over 300 acres of protected wildlife habitat and natural areas with over 12 miles of trails as well as convenient access to Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness. As a member and visitor supported nonprofit, your generous donations are needed to continue its ongoing legacy.

“Ijams is excited to partner with Tomato Head and their Loving Spoonful program for the month of June. All of the proceeds for the month will go towards programs to get kids in the Knoxville area active and outdoors,” said Mary Thom Adams, Development Coordinator. “The mission of Ijams is to provide engaging outdoor experiences for all people, and with the help of Tomato Head, we are working towards a happier and healthier community here in East Tennessee.”

A portion of the proceeds generated at each event go directly to Ijams Nature Center.

• All month (Breaking Bread Fundraiser) Proceeds from the sale of any type of Flour Head Bakery bread at both Tomato Head locations goes to Ijams.
• June 12 (Sandwich Day Fundraiser) Both Tomato Head locations will offer a special Ijams Nature Center sandwich.
• June 17 (Pint Night Fundraiser)Featuring Turtle Anarchy Brewing Company’s “More Than Meets the Rye” double dry hopped IPA.

“Ijams is such a positive force in our community that they were an easy choice as Loving Spoonful partners.  Their work at preserving our natural environment and making their campus open and inviting for all of Knoxville to enjoy is paralleled only by the beauty of the Ijams park itself,” said Tomato Head co-owner Scott Partin.

But the fun doesn’t stop there!

Stop by either Tomato Head location to register to win a pair of tickets to WDVX’s Meadow Lark Festival on June 28 and a family membership to Ijams. The drawing will be held on June 25. You gotta stop by one of the locations to enter.

The Tomato Head celebrates the sustainable urban gardening efforts of CAC Beardsley Community Farm with their next round of Loving Spoonful fundraisers. Join us throughout May to help raise much needed funds for farm improvements and further Beardsley Farm’s community outreach.

“The farm is very excited to benefit from the Tomato Head’s Loving Spoonful fundraiser! The Tomato Head has been tremendously supportive of CAC Beardsley Community Farm for over ten years. We look forward to a successful month with the Tomato Head and encourage all lovers of Beardsley, the Tomato Head, and good food to attend this worthy cause,” said Beardsley’s Farm Manager Khann Chov.

“Funds raised from the Loving Spoonful benefit will go towards Beardsley Farm’s operating budget including paying for utilities, and building materials to repair irrigation, signage, and garden beds. CAC Beardsley Community Farm grows over 4,000 pounds of produce with the help of numerous community volunteers. All of this food is donated to those in need in Knoxville. ”

CAC Beardsley Community Farm is an urban demonstration site that has promoted food security and sustainable urban agriculture through practice, education, and community outreach since 1998. All of the vegetables raised at CAC Beardsley Farm are donated to Family Crisis Center, Mobile Meals, Global Seeds, Knoxville Area Rescue Mission (KARM), and Western Heights Baptist Center.

“We selected Beardsley Community Farm because their mission of educating the public about natural food and the benefits of growing and eating your own crops is essential to creating a local food shed in East Tennessee,” said Tomato Head co-owner Scott Partin.

Proceeds generated at each event goes directly to Beardsley Community Farm.

• All month (Breaking Bread Fundraiser) Proceeds from the sale of any type of Flour Head Bakery bread at both Tomato Head locations goes to Beardsley Farm.
• May 13 (Sandwich Day Fundraiser) Both Tomato Head locations will offer a special Beardsley Farm sandwich.
• May 20 (Pint Night Fundraiser) Featuring French Broad Brewing Company’s Ryehopper Rye Pale Ale.

For more information or interviews, please contact Khann Chov, Farm Manager of CAC Beardsley Community Farm, at 865-546-8446 and beardsleyfarm@gmail.com, or Michael Kuczmarski, The Tomato Head’s Marketing Director, at marketing@thetomatohead.com and 865-850-2318.

About CAC Beardsley Community Farm

CAC Beardsley Community Farm is an urban demonstration site that has promoted food security and sustainable urban agriculture through practice, education, and community outreach since 1998. The mission of the farm is to educate people of all ages about the possibilities and methods of organic and sustainable urban gardening. Beardsley Farm also gives support and tools to community members to help them grow their own food, and teach about the financial and environmental benefits of home food production. All of the vegetables raised at CAC Beardsley Farm are donated to Family Crisis Center, Mobile Meals, Global Seeds, Knoxville Area Rescue Mission (KARM), and Western Heights Baptist Center.

About The Tomato Head

Opened in 1990, The Tomato Head is committed to helping the community by supporting sustainable agriculture, giving to East Tennessee nonprofits, and recycling its food and packaging waste. Its new charitable donation program, Loving Spoonful, is a partnership between East Tennessee nonprofits, regional craft breweries and the restaurant. It consists of a series of fundraisers and special events with a percentage of the proceeds raised going to our community partner of the month.

The Tomato Head celebrates the conservation and trail preservation efforts of the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club with their next round of Loving Spoonful fundraisers. The last three Tuesdays in April provide our community the opportunity to help raise awareness and much needed funds for AMBC trail development in Knox County.

“AMBC is excited to be partnering with The Tomato Head in the month of April,” said AMBC Secretary Molly Robinson. “We love to support local business, and Tomato Head’s commitment to healthy, quality food and sustainability is a perfect match. Funds raised from this partnership will go directly to the trails and our efforts to conserve Knoxville’s open spaces.”

Appalachian Mountain Bike Club currently maintains the Knoxville Urban Wilderness trail network in south Knoxville and Concord Park in west Knoxville as well as Sharp’s Ridge in north Knoxville and I.C. King Park in south Knoxville. AMBC provided over 1300 man hours for the layout and construction of trails in Hastie Natural Area.

By partnering with Knox County, Ijams Nature Center, TWRA and numerous private land owners, AMBC developed 35 miles of multi-use natural surface trails at Forks of the River WMA, Ijams/Ross Marble Quarry and Marie Myers Park.

“The network of hiking and biking trails created by AMBC in South Knoxville creates a world class outdoor attraction that is within easy cycling distance of our downtown and close-in neighborhoods. What truly amazes us is the dedication of the AMBC volunteers who get the work done, said Tomato Head co-owner Scott Partin.

“On any given weekend 30-50 incredible folks will show up and toil for several hours with hand tools, literally hacking the trails out of the forest. We are inspired and humbled by the work done by our fellow Knoxvillians and are honored to support their work this month.”

A portion of the proceeds generated at each event goes directly to AMBC.

April 15 (Sandwich Day Fundraiser) Both Tomato Head locations during lunch and dinner will offer a special AMBC sandwich with $3 dollars from each sandwich sold going to the nonprofit.

April 22 (Pint Night Fundraiser) Foothills Brewing’s Bourbon Barrel Aged People’s Porter. AMBC receives $1 from each draft sold, whether it’s the  Bourbon Barrel Aged People’s Porter or any tasty craft beer we offer on draft. This event takes place at both Tomato Head locations.

April 29 (Beer Dinner Fundraiser) Four course menu paired with a selection of Foothills Brewing beers. Tickets are only $45 (including tax and gratuity). AMBC receives $10 from each ticket sold. Our location in The Gallery Shopping Center at 7240 Kingston Pike hosts the beer dinner.

For more information or interviews, please contact Molly Robinson, AMBC Secretary, at 865-250-0425 and mollymr1@gmail.com, or Michael Kuczmarski, The Tomato Head’s Marketing Director, at marketing@thetomatohead.com and 865-850-2318.

About Appalachian Mountain Bike Club

The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club is a chapter of the South East regional division of IMBA, committed to complement the goals and purpose of IMBA. They are a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting sustainable trail access for off-road bicyclists and, to maintaining the trails on which mountain bikers ride and other user groups rely on. The Appalachian Mountain Bike Club supports the conservation of open spaces and is committed to educating mountain bicyclists to ride sensitively and responsibly in order to protect the natural environment and the experience of other trail users.

About The Tomato Head

Opened in 1990, The Tomato Head serves delicious sandwiches, pizzas, and burritos for carnivores, vegetarians and vegans, and is committed to teaming up with East Tennessee nonprofits to enrich the lives of the less fortunate in the area. Its new charitable donation program, Loving Spoonful, is a partnership between East Tennessee nonprofits, regional craft breweries and the restaurant. It consists of a series of fundraisers and special events with a percentage of the proceeds raised going to our community partner of the month.