(NECN: Katelyn Tivnan: Worcester, Mass.) – A Waltham brewer whose brother is a firefighter is making a special beerand the profits are going to the family of a Worcester firefighter who was killed in December.

The proceeds from the sale of the beer will benefit a fund set up for the children of Jon Davies. The brewers hope to raise $3,000, and so far, they say, the response is overwhelming

Rescue One Kolsch is being brewed in memory of Jon Davies by Aaron Mateychuk of Watch City Brewing Co. In Waltham, Mass., whose brother, James, is a Worcester firefighter.

Aaron Mateychuk said the production of the beer has been prompting calls from all over the country.

At the Smokestack restaurant in Worcester, a number of firefighters are regulars and now consumers of the brew. Discussions are also under way to make the beer a permanent product.

Watch City Brewing Co. has released a beer to benefit the children of a Worcester firefighter who died in the line of duty.

Aaron Mateychuk, brewmaster at Waltham-based Watch City, brewed the beer — a kölsch — with the help of Worcester firefighters. (Mateychuk’s brother, James, is also a Worcester firefighter.)

Watch City began shipping Rescue One Kölsch to bars and pubs last weekend, and it should be showing up on tap in the Boston area now. It will be available as such places as the Salty Pig, Stoddard’s, Canary Square, and Deep Ellum, Mateychuk said.

Watch City also bottled some of the beer in 22-ounce bombers. Priced at $10, those 400 bottles are sold only at the brewery in Waltham.

One-quarter of the sales price is going to the Jon Davies Children’s Fund, which is helping the three sons of the 43-year-old fallen firefighter, who died Dec. 8 when the burning building he entered collapsed on him.

So how’s the beer? It’s crisp and refreshing.

Straw yellow and clear with a short head that quickly dissipates, Rescue One Kölsch has a subtle, winey aroma that suggests grain crackers and light hops. The beer has a mild bitterness, a slight hop profile, a hint of lemon, and just a bit of creaminess.

A German-style ale that is cold-lagered, a kölsch is like a hybrid of a pale ale and a light lager. It’s also fairly tame, at 4.8 percent alcohol by volume. It would be a perfect summer beer, but heck, it’s here now, and we’ll take it. It should be around for a while, too. Watch City plans to brew the third and fourth batches of Rescue One Kölsch next week.

Aaron Mateychuk, brewmaster at Waltham-based Watch City, will oversee the brewing of Rettung Eins Kölsch (or “Rescue One Kölsch”), along with assistant brewmaster Kelly McKnight and five Worcester firefighters, yet to be named. Kölsch is a crisp, straw-colored, German-style ale that is cold-lagered; indeed a kölsch tastes like a refreshing hybrid of a pale ale and a light lager.

Mateychuk — whose brother, James, is a Worcester firefighter – told me the beer will likely be ready for sale sometime between Feb. 8 and Feb. 15. It will be sold almostly entirely in half-barrels, to bars, pubs, and restaurants, which means it will be available primarily on tap, though a limited number of 22-ounce bottles will be sold at the Watch City brewery.

A portion of the proceeds from sales of Rettung Eins Kölsch will go to the Jon Davies Children’s Fund, which is helping the three sons of the 43-year-old fallen firefighter, who died when the burning building he entered collapsed on him. No one else died in that Dec. 8 fire.

Firefighters from Worcester Fire Department at Watch City

January 09, 2012 | Steve Greenlee, Globe Staff

Watch City Brewing Co. announced today it will brew a beer to raise money for a fund assisting the children of Worcester firefighter Jon D. Davies Sr., who died last month while trying to rescue a resident from a burning home.

Aaron Mateychuk, brewmaster at Waltham-based Watch City, will oversee the brewing of Rettung Eins Kölsch (or “Rescue One Kölsch”), along with assistant brewmaster Kelly McKnight and five Worcester firefighters, yet to be named. Kölsch is a crisp, straw-colored, German-style ale that is cold-lagered; indeed a kölsch tastes like a refreshing hybrid of a pale ale and a light lager.

Mateychuk — whose brother, James, is a Worcester firefighter — told me the beer will likely be ready for sale sometime between Feb. 8 and Feb. 15. It will be sold almostly entirely in half-barrels, to bars, pubs, and restaurants, which means it will be available primarily on tap, though a limited number of 22-ounce bottles will be sold at the Watch City brewery.

A portion of the proceeds from sales of Rettung Eins Kölsch will go to the Jon Davies Children’s Fund, which is helping the three sons of the  43-year-old fallen firefighter, who died when the burning building he entered collapsed on him. No one else died in that Dec. 8 fire.

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Any inquires or questions regarding this beer and fundraiser can be directed to Head Brewer Aaron Mateychuk or Assistant Brewer Kelly McKnight. They can be reached at WCBC by calling 781.647.4000 or email at brewmaster1965@rcn.com.

Watch City Brewing Company, under the brewing supervision of Aaron Mateychuk (Brewmaster of Watch City Brewing Company and brother of James Mateychuk, WFD Firefighter on Engine 5), Assistant Brewer Kelly McKnight and five Worcester firefighters (all to be named at a later date), will brew a Kölsch style beer. The beer will be named “Rettung Eins Kölsch or Rescue One Kölsch”. A portion of every keg sold will go to The Jon Davies Children Fund.

Kölsch or Köelsch is a local specialty beer brewed in Cologne, Germany. It is a clear beer with a bright straw-­‐yellow hue with prominent, but not extreme,. hoppiness. It is less bitter than the standard German pale lager. Furthermore, Kölsch is warm fermented at a temperature around 13° to 21°C (55° to 70°F) and then cold-­conditioned, or lagered. Besidesthe style, the German connotation has no meaning other than to be a quality, easy drinking beer that will quench the thirst of firefighters and patrons alike.

The Worcester Fire Department will be supplying Watch City Brewing Companythe logo from the fire station to be used for all “Rescue One Kölsch” tap handles and any point of sale material. The price for a ½ bbl (15.5 gallons) for the “Rescue One Kölsch” will be $155.00 and will be sold in this size only.

Any inquires or questions regarding this beer and fundraiser can be directed to Head Brewer Aaron Mateychuk or Assistant Brewer Kelly McKnight. They can be reached at WCBC by calling 781.647.4000 or email at brewmaster1965@rcn.com.

Stop by on Saturday, November 12th from 11:30am – 4pm to check it out!

Read more about it at digboston.com

Over 600 people attended this amazing event and sampled over 30 varieties of fabulous local beer, cider, wine and mead. Everyone had a great time voting for their favorites. Results were close, resulting in multiple ties. It must have been hard to pick a favorite when everything was so tasty!