Everybody talkin' Thanksgiving this, Christmas that, New Years this. Do not forget Veterans Day. It's next Tuesday. Our troops give the ultimate. Myself, I go to my local American Legion and buy a round. Lots of Coors Light. But occasionally you get a request for an IPA or stout. If ya can afford it, buy a vet a burger or a chicken fried steak. Military folks are diverse and some of 'em like really good beer. Get 'em one. It's the least we can do.
September 18th, 1947 is the USAF Birthday...In 1997 I was stationed in Denver, Coors put out an Anniversary Ale that had an eagle on the front, and the USAF dates on it...don't remember the beer that much, but I saved the bottle
If anyone would like to join the OP in this, here's a link to find the American Legion post nearest you: http://www.members.legion.org/CGI-B...tn=wr_dsplcr+ml=LANSA:XHTML+part=TAL+lang=ENG
There are plenty of veterans, and those who are still serving, that love great beer. There are even more that love crappy beer. Don't just buy a beer and leave but sit down and talk. Learn something, get connected, hear a funny story, hear a story of great men and women who died far too soon. Free beer and a thanks are always appreciated, but someone to spend 5-10 minutes to talk, even if they disagree with the wars, is the greatest feeling on Earth. Time is precious, you can never get it back and someone who is willing to give their time shows they care more than anything else.
Back in the day there used to be parades. The vets would all put their uniforms on, buttons popping on some of them and their medals all polished and on their breasts where they belong. You don't realize until you are much older in life that some folks have had ideologies and fought battles on your behalf. That used to make us grateful enough for a parade. Now we just slink in to the local "vee eff dubbya" and sit next to someone you came away from thinking ' I really liked that guy." You owe him a beer at least.
November 10th is the Marine Corps birthday. Keep your wives and girl friends far, far away from bars.
At first I didn't even want to open the thread since I thought the OP was going talk about some beers to enjoy on Veterans Day. I'm glad I got curious because what the OP suggested is exactly what I'm going to do at my local American Legion or VFW.
Never would have fallen in love with craft beer if it wasn't for my time as a paratrooper- had some great guys introduce me. It made deployments even harder... lol. I guess I should drink Keystone for Veterans Day though, since that's what me and my squad lived off of for a few years... cheers and Airborne!
When I was in West Pac there was a Longshoremans strike on the west coast. Only beer we had for a month was Olympia. War is hell.
Maybe - but Oly got me through college in CO so I've got a soft spot. And the only Coors I drank was free at the brewery.
This is a great idea but only members can buy drinks (veteran or not) at the Legion. You can, however, have someone buy them with your (under the table) money. When I first got out I was not eligible to join but Congress changed the dates at some point.
I retired 3 years ago and just saw that a local brewery here in south florida Saltwater Brewing has made 2 special beers for veterans day so the least I can do is go have a few beers to support their effort to do something for the veterans.
I think this is so very cool of them to do this here is the link http://www.saltwaterbrewery.com/events/2014/10/27/barrel-aged-wild-saison-release-veterans-day
There's always the option buy beer FROM veterans: http://www.veteranbeercompany.com/ I DO NOT WORK FOR THIS COMPANY OR SELL FOR THEM. I just saw their stuff in my local, have not tried it yet. I spent (one weekend a month, two weeks in the summer) eight years driving a tank in the Guard. Unfortunately those guys liked really, really bad beer. We always had a case or two in the sponsons or bustle rack somewhere, and it was always not good. We had Carling Black Label falling out of the ammo racks at one point. My options for craft in the Cold War Era were limited, but I remember bringing a sixer of Pete's Wicked Ale to put in the supply cache, and more than one guy goggling at me like I was maybe a Communist infiltrator. "The hell? Whatchoo got going on here, Specialist? Some kinda fancy-boy nonsense? Whar's the Miller? You think you're better than me?"
I have spent my share of days behind the bar of an American Legion and believe me, those individuals are often humbled to let you buy them a beer, but usually proud to tell you some great stories! Thanks to all Vets!
