Posted on by Deborah Jones
On Location with Biz X - Fine and Dandy Festival - May 2025
Eric Robert - Brewery Consultant & Host of Brew Talk and owner of the Erie Street Brewery, set to open soon. Photo courtesy of Windsor Aerial Drone Photography.
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Apr

Cheers To A Cause: 11 Local Breweries Unite For The Fine N’ Dandy Charity Beer Festival

The Fine N’ Dandy Charity Beer Festival returned on Sunday, April 27, 2025 at GL Heritage Brewing Company, 8728 Howard Avenue in Amherstburg, uniting 11 local craft breweries in a heartfelt celebration of beer, community, and compassion — all in support of cancer-related causes.

This annual event began in 2016, founded by the late Jeffrey Craig, a beloved brewer at Walkerville Brewery. What started as a small, one- beer fundraiser has grown into a vibrant regional tradition. It’s a powerful showcase of collaboration, creativity, and the strength of Windsor’s craft beer community.

It was organized by Eric Robert, Brewery Consultant and hosted by Jen Desjardins-Grondin, Co-Owner, GL Heritage Brewing Company who are interviewed in the accompanying video. Desjardins-Grondin, Co- Owner GL Heritage Brewing Company in Amherstburg talks about the recent Fine N’ Dandy Charity Beer Festival in April and about their upcoming events in May and June.

Each participating brewery poured a specially brewed, dandelion-inspired beer — paying tribute to Jeffrey’s vision and to all those affected by cancer.

The dandelion was chosen not only for its ties to cancer awareness but also for its symbolic resilience and potential health benefits. Today, it stands as a unifying theme across all featured beers. Best of all, 100% of sample ticket sales go directly to the Hospice of Windsor and Essex County and the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation. These two two incredible organizations offer support, comfort, and care to individuals and families facing cancer.

Participating Breweries were:

  • Jake’s Windsor Brew Factory
  • Erie Street Brewery
  • Craft Heads Brewery
  • Walkerville Brewery
  • GL Heritage Brewing Company
  • Rose City Beer Works
  • Chapter Two Brewing Company
  • Kingsville Brewery
  • The Beerded Dog Brewing Company
  • Fat Lou Brew
  • Top Dog Brewery

Festival Highlights

  • Live music by Paul Longden and DJ Music by The River DJs, both generously donating their time and talent
  • Frate Street Food — served up mouth-watering eats available for purchase

The festival was sponsored by Hops Connect Canada and Yeast Canada Innovations.

The relaxed, backyard-style festival also featured cornhole games, lots of sunshine and the unbeatable camaraderie of Windsor’s craft beer scene. It definitely was a day of good beer, good people, and doing good together!

Video provided by Mike Chase, owner of Windsor Aerial Drone Photography.

Subscribe to Biz X at no charge and stay tuned for more captivating segments that showcase the vibrant communities, events and remarkable individuals, businesses and organizations shaping our region.

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Deborah Jones

Deborah Jones – Publisher of Biz X Magazine Deborah Jones graduated from the University of Windsor with an Honours Degree in Communication Studies and was employed at two other local magazines shortly after for a few years learning all she could about writing, advertising, public relations and more. She made the jump in 1998 to go out on her own to publish Biz X magazine and has worked in the publishing industry since 1990. In 2007, she earned the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award from the Windsor & District Chamber of Commerce. To date, she is the ONLY woman so far to receive this award. In 2013, she received one of the first “Windsor Women of the Year” awards from the Ladies Exclusive Alliance. Her most recent achievement is the 2023 Media Award from the Windsor Essex Chapter of the Kidney Foundation of Canada. Deborah is proud to live in Windsor and truly cares about each and every business and strives to make Windsor Essex the best place to live, work and play.