Drekker Brewing in Fargo has launched a new sour beer called Straight Cheesin’ to remember Krissy Block, a longtime employee who died from breast cancer in 2025. The beer celebrates her vibrant personality and contributions to the brewery. It debuts on International Women's Day.
Drekker Brewing Company in Fargo, North Dakota, introduced its latest brew, Straight Cheesin’, a trail mix sour beer, on March 5, 2026. The release honors Krissy Block, a 37-year-old brewer who passed away in August 2025 after battling breast cancer. Block was known for her energetic and joyful presence at the brewery, where she worked for years.
The beer's colorful label incorporates personal elements from Block's life, including the names of her dogs, references to her work, and her birthdate on the bottom, labeled as 'The Legend and her birthday.' Family members, including Block's father Erik Ness and sister Katy VanHavermaet, participated in the brewing process shortly before the release.
Darin Montplaisir, a founder of Drekker, described Block as 'so fun and goofy,' noting that 'she brought the joy into this place. Even on crappy days, she found a way to make everybody laugh.' Her sister added, 'She was so spunky and everything to everybody.' Ness recalled her as 'high energy, just a breath of sunshine every time she walked into a room,' and emphasized her giving nature: 'She was a giver ... gave a smile and everything to everybody.'
Whitney Myhra, a longtime Drekker employee, said the can 'encapsulates everything about who she was, she was our spunky, punk girl.' Ness expressed gratitude for the brewery's support, stating, 'They have been like family and to have my hand in something being brewed, is pretty cool.'
The beer will debut publicly on March 8, 2026, coinciding with International Women's Day, allowing friends and family to toast Block's memory. For more details, visit drekkerbrewing.com.
