2022 W. Curtis Strube Small Business Award Finalist: Hold Fast Brewing

INSPIRATION
Carol McLeod and Susan McLeod, sisters and co-owners of Hold Fast Brewing, say their 3-year-old brewery is a representation of the principles they hold important in their family. The logo of a bull is their Scottish family crest, while the Hold Fast name derives from their longstanding family motto to “stand proud and true to your convictions and dreams.”

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Hold Fast has collaborated in recent months with Jordan Valley Community Health Center on three vaccination clinics in the brewery. On-site health officials offer a free COVID-19 vaccine to community members, who also are provided a free beverage voucher upon vaccination. A fourth clinic is scheduled for later this month, according to officials.

DRIVE-THRU
In the early weeks of the coronavirus pandemic, the McLeods made a pivot that briefly allowed the brewery to convert to a curbside pickup location and literal drive-thru. Customers could drive into the brewery, pick up to-go crowler cans from their vehicles and exit straight onto Kimbrough Avenue. Susan said the move allowed staff to remain employed during the temporary closure.

CHARITABLE
Since its 2019 launch, the brewery chooses a charity of the month and allows the organization to select a beer for which to derive monthly profits. A percentage of every pint of that beer sold goes to the charity for a one-time monthly donation. Ozarks Food Harvest, Camp Barnabas and Junior League of Springfield are among past partners.