Hot Plate Brewing Finalist For USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Hot Plate Brewing Co., the only Latina-owned brewery in Massachusetts, was recently named a finalist for the USA Today's 10Best Readers' Choice Awards for Best New Brewery. 
 
Since opening their doors in downtown Pittsfield in February 2023, this mission-driven organization has been garnering attention on a local, regional, and national level, both for their beers and the impact they're making in the community, stated a press release.  
 
Owner and head brewer, Sarah Real, was also recently elected to the Massachusetts Brewers Guild Board of Directors as well as the Pink Boots Society Board of Directors, largely because of the work she has been doing to increase the diversity, equity, and inclusion in an overwhelmingly male industry. 
 
"For years, I didn't see myself reflected in the brewhouse or in most leadership positions at other breweries," said Real, who discovered that fewer than 1 percent of all breweries in the US are owned and operated by women of color. "And while I know how much representation matters, I also wanted to make sure that I'm empowering and supporting other marginalized people in this industry, which is why we have a mostly female and mostly queer staff, and why so many of the vendors I work with are also small, local, and women owned."
 
Hot Plate Brewing has also been awarded for their work by organizations as varied as Mass Econ, National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Berkshire County, and Berkshire Pride. In 2024, they raised more than $10,000 for a variety of mission-aligned nonprofit organizations, including the Pittsfield Area Council of Congregations (PACC) who collectively raised more than $27,000 for this year's Fuel Fund, which the brewery supported in several ways.
 
"Even though we're new to the Berkshires, we're incredibly proud of the partnerships we've formed here with mission-aligned organizations and individuals. We've been able to make a measurable difference in this city," says co-founder Mike Dell'Aquila. 
 
Votes can be made online using this link: https://10best.usatoday.com/qr/45046/
 
 
 
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Companion Corner: Moose at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a chill Labrador retriever mix at the Berkshire Humane Society that's looking a home where he can take long walks and can cuddle afterward.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home. 

Moose is a 5-year-old Lab mix and has been at the shelter for about three weeks. Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Fox.  

"He just wants to soak up all the attention, all the pets, all of the love that you have to give. He is just a big mush. Very social, buddy," she said.

He had to come to the shelter after his home situation had to change.

"The young woman who brought him in had him since he was a puppy, and unfortunately, her housing changed, so she was not able to keep him with her anymore," Olivieri said.

Moose is a happy boy who likes moderate exercise. While he does not play with toys aggressively, he loves to nibble on them, but prefers to just hang out with his person.

"He loves to go on walks. He likes to hang out with other dogs. He's pretty chill. He's social. He's not super playful, but he does like the company of other dogs, who are also calm like he is," she said. "But mainly, his favorite thing is just being with people. He wants someone to cuddle with at night, cuddle with on the couch. He's just going to be right by your side, glued to you all the time."

Moose can go home with children ages 10 and older and to one with another chill dog. It is preferred he is in a home and not an apartment as he can be a bit vocal when he is alone.

"He could live with another dog, but no small animals, no cats. And a home where someone is home with him a bit would be really good for him, so that he could spend a lot of time with people," Olivieri said. 

Moose is on a special diet for his skin as he has some itchiness caused by allergies.

"He does have what appears to be some kind of skin allergy. He is on medication for that right now as well, and we've been giving him medicated baths. And his hair and coat are growing in nicely, but he did have some patches where there's some hair loss and some definitely some itchiness and irritation in his ears," she said. "But we've given him some ear treatments, and he is on medication right now to help clear that up, and it is looking pretty good."

While Moose can be shy at first but warms up pretty fast once he meets you.

"At first, it does take him not too long, but just a little bit to get used to new people. If he is a little bit uncomfortable with someone, he will bark a little bit, but really, it's just him being a little bit uncertain, and that's kind of how he lets his feelings out. But if you take your time with him and take your time getting to know him, it does not take him long at all to warm right up," she said.

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