The North Florida chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (CFF) recently hosted CHEER, an upscale tasting event at Aloft Hotel celebrating the art of hand-crafted ales and fine cuisine. All proceeds benefited the organization, which is dedicated to raising funds for cystic fibrosis research and improving the quality of life for those affected by the disease.

Nearly 400 food and beer lovers attended the event where local and regional craft breweries showcased their traditional brews, along with rare or limited-edition beers. More than 24 beers were available for tasting from Bold City Brewery, Green Room Brewery, Victory Brewing and Southern Tier, among others. A special collaboration between two of Jacksonville’s premier breweries, Bold City Brewery and Green Room Brewery, was available only at the event. A bottle of the Belgian white craft beer was given to each guest to take home as a souvenir.

The Art Institute Culinary Academy was on-site preparing dishes designed specifically for pairing with the beers on tap or featuring a craft beer in the recipe. Highlights of the menu included Bold City Duke’s Cold Nose Brown Ale-braised pork sliders with orange mango bbq sauce and Southern Tier Creme Brulee Stout-smoked oysters with sweet herb cheese brulee.

CFF hosts a number of unique events in North Florida each year to raise money and awareness for cystic fibrosis. To find out more about upcoming events, including Fashion by Moonlight, visit www.cff.org/Chapters/NFL.