YOUR VOTE CAN CREATE A NATIONAL BREWING LEGEND WITH DLE TIES

By Gabrielle Chisolm, Communications Intern, a junior majoring in English at the University of Maryland

From living room hobby to storefront business to national blockbuster. That’s the evolution of DLE Member Mike Dell’Aquilla and wife Sarah Real’s craft brewery, Hot Plate Brewing Co., which is a contender for USA Today’s Readers Choice Awards for the nation’s Best New Brewery.

Mike, a DLE nominee and winner of 40 Under Forty in 2022, received exciting news in late January of Hot Plate’s selection by a panel of beer experts as a nominee for the prestigious honor. Voting is underway through Feb. 24, and Mike welcomes DLE community members’ enthusiastic support.

“We are thrilled to be nominated, but we want to win the whole thing!” he proudly exclaims.

The DLE HUB featured Mike and Sarah’s inspirational story of building a craft brewery from scratch, which you can read by clicking here. The name, Hot Plate, serendipitously emerged from misfortune. The local gas company turned off service to their Brooklyn, NY apartment, sparking a creative solution to use a hot plate for their brewing experiments. That was back in 2017.

Their passion for brewing continued to heat up as did their adventurous spirit. Mike and Sarah decided to leave bustling city life behind and relocate to the bucolic Berkshires of Western Massachusetts, where they found a welcoming community and brand new storefront for a business in Pittsfield. The doors opened in February 2023.

As general manager and co-founder of the brewery, Mike’s leadership skills have helped Hot Plate become widely respected for its community commitment, having raised more than $10,000 for local non-profits through year-round special events. He eyes this latest distinction as a triumph for Hot Plate’s loyal customers and neighbors. 

“We’re obviously thrilled to be a finalist for the 10 Best New Breweries, but we see this as a potential big win for the whole community. We wouldn’t be where we were if it weren’t for the incredible community surrounding us and supporting us every step of the way,” Mike assures.

That unique bond and commitment, plus the brewery’s 12 flavorful draft offerings, have fueled popularity as well as notoriety with feature articles in Forbes, VinePair, and Wine Enthusiasts. A win in the USA Today competition is one more accolade Mike and Sarah hope to achieve.

VOTE NOW AND OFTEN! Join the DLE’s community support for Hot Plate’s selection for the 10 Best New Breweries distinction by voting here. Vote today and continue to vote every day up to Feb. 24th.