THE STORY OF THE GHOST HAWK CHILI COOKOFF

 

 

​[ORIGINS]

 

For those who don’t know the history of the GRZLY × Shralpers Union Chili Cook-Off, it was an important event and tradition that I upheld for many years before this brewery opened — held in honor of my friend Noel Korman and his girlfriend Alice Park, who both passed tragically in a freak accident the night before our very first chili cook-off.

 

The first event was held on December 6, 2014 at a bar where we both worked at the time. I had launched the GRZLY brand earlier that spring, years before this brewery was even a thought. Noel had started the Shralpers Union several years earlier. The cook-off was something we created with one simple goal: to have a fun afternoon of chili, beer, music, and to showcase both of our clothing and lifestyle brands.

 

“We just wanted a fun afternoon of chili, beer, and music… but life had other plans.”

 

The day of the event arrived. Contestants showed up early with their crock pots, the room filled quickly, the smell of homemade chili hung in the air, and the GRZLY merch table was set and ready. But one thing was missing — Noel wasn’t there. It was discovered shortly after that he and Alice had been killed in their sleep by a carbon-monoxide leak in their studio space (read more here.)

 

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[LOSS & TRANSFORMATION]

 

I’ve lost many friends before Noel and many since, but none that I was so close with at the time of their death. During those years, we were tight — talking often, hanging out, and working side by side. We both spent a lot of time at the bar where we worked, and I was designing graphics for Shralpers Union while getting GRZLY off the ground.

 

Noel was a skateboarder, snowboarder, and surfer — always chasing that next wave, line, or hill. I would have imagined him disappearing while surfing a tsunami or snowboarding off a glacier long before I ever imagined he’d be gassed to death in his sleep.

 

“That day shook me to my core. In a lot of ways, their deaths became a catalyst for me.”

 

It changed my entire view on life and pushed me toward a major paradigm shift. I quit my office job, started reevaluating everything, and eventually went on to open Ghost Hawk a few years later. Since then, I’ve continued to hold this event on the same weekend every year in their memory.

 

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[GROWTH & GIVING BACK]

 

Each year the cook-off grew larger. The last one we held in 2019 drew a couple hundred people throughout the day. Admission was always either a cash donation or a winter coat — most people brought both. Donations were collected at the door, we raffled off prizes from a ton of generous folks, ran a 50/50, and donated all proceeds and winter coats to St. Peter’s Haven in their names.

 

Those coat donations eventually inspired what became our Annual Winter Coat & Toy Drive, which has grown into one of Ghost Hawk’s most important community traditions.

 

“What started as a small charity idea at the door grew into one of our biggest community drives of the year.”

 

During the years when hosting a public chili event was trickier to navigate legally with the NJ ABC — from 2019 through 2023 — we released our flagship lager under the “High Fives & Positive Vibes” label in lieu of the cook-off. Each year, that beer was released in coordination with our Winter Coat & Toy Drive, and all of the coats, toys, and cash donations — along with 100% of the beer proceeds — were donated to St. Peter’s Haven, keeping the charitable spirit alive until we could bring the event home to the brewery.

 

In 2024, we were finally able to bring the Chili Cook-Off back to life at Ghost Hawk Brewing, hosting it as a private, ticketed event — which allowed us to navigate the NJ ABC regulations around serving food and make the event fully compliant. It became our inaugural cook-off at the brewery, marking ten years since Noel and Alice’s passing and the official return of the tradition to where it belongs.

 

“2024 marked the first Ghost Hawk Chili Cook-Off — a full-circle moment ten years in the making.”

 

You can view photos from last year’s event here to see how the day came together and the incredible support from our community.

 

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[LEGACY]

 

What was born in tragedy has grown into something beautiful and much bigger than myself. Noel and I started it simply to drink beers, eat chili, sell merch, and have a party. But life changed that day. We carried it on every year without him, for the best possible cause — to give back to the community he loved.

 

“What was born in tragedy has grown into something beautiful.”

 

This event also became deeply meaningful for Noel’s father, Ray “Razor” Korman, as a yearly remembrance for his son — a day to gather, tell stories, share memories, and carry on Noel’s charitable spirit. Over the years Razor became more than just my buddy’s dad — he became my friend. Sadly, he passed in April 2020, but I know his only wish was to be with his son again. Before he passed, he told me on several occasions that this event should follow me to Ghost Hawk… so that’s exactly what I decided to do.

 

“Before he passed, Razor told me this event should follow me to Ghost Hawk… and that’s exactly what I decided to do.”

 

Noel, Alice, and Razor might not be here anymore, but their spirits live on through this brewery — and that will continue for as long as we do.

 

“Their spirits live on through this brewery — and that will continue for as long as we do.”

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CHEERS & MUCH LOVE!

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Steve Bauer

Founder / Creative Director

Ghost Hawk Brewing Co.

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