Members and supporters of Sunrise Rotary Vero Beach raised their glasses to help protect the environment at Cheers and Beers for a Healthy Lagoon last Friday evening at the Walking Tree Brewery.

This year, Sunrise Rotary partnered with S.E.A. a Difference, a grassroots environmental organization whose mission is to protect coastal ecosystems through stewardship, environmental education and community action.

Robin Pelensky, who chaired the fifth annual VIP event, said the evening was a way to thank donors and all those affiliated with their annual Florida Craft Brew and Wingfest. This is the eighth year for the popular Brew and Wingfest, which takes place from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 16, at Royal Palm Pointe.

At Cheers and Beers, nearly 250 attendees savored the gastronomic celebration by sipping craft brews from a keg-full of Treasure Coast homebrewers hailing from Sebastian to Stuart, and noshing on tapas-style dishes from 12 local restaurants.

The suds scientists had brewed up concoctions christened with names like Washed up Coconut, Cocoa Cocus Robusticus and Stick in the Eye, made with atypical ingredients that included a hint of chocolate, spices and fruits among others.

Area eateries presented delectable victuals for the foodies’ consumption, such as stuffed mushrooms, lamb chops, smoked shrimp, potato poppers, Gambretti with spicy polenta, a coconut coffee porter pork slider, chimichangas and even a blue crab donut.

For those opting to taste the fruit of the vine instead of the chaff, Varietals and More offered a Maggio Petite Sirah and a Fault Line Sauvignon Blanc paired with cheese, chorizo and smoked fish dip.

The silent auction featured Trashed Treasures – sculptures made from items collected by volunteers during lagoon cleanups. Each piece focused on an environmental theme, including creatures from the Indian River Lagoon, a turtle, octopus, stingray and jellyfish.

An original depiction of “The Lorax” sat center stage to raise awareness of the over-consumption of single-use plastics, which find their way into the ocean and lagoon. Plastic toys, barrettes, utensils and straws comprised the outside of a Seuss-inspired display filled with plastic food wrappers and bags.

A majority of the pieces were created by S.E.A. a Difference founder Missy Weiss, and included a hidden message – perhaps a subliminal note to observers – to LOVE the lagoon.

“This collaboration just made sense,” said Pelensky. “Sunrise Rotary puts quite a bit of time and money into helping our lagoon.”

In a People’s Choice competition, Jason Flinn from Sebastian-based Red Buoy won first place in the Homebrewers category with his Slack Tide, an American Lager. Wild Thyme Catering’s herb-crusted lamb chops with blackberry lime coulis took first place in the Restaurant division.

Proceeds from the eighth annual Florida Craft Brew and Wingfest will benefit Sunrise Rotary community projects and scholarships.

For more information visit sunriserotaryverobeach.org or floridacraftbrewandwingfest.com.