VALLEY SPRINGS, S.D. (KELO) — Thursday night, we told you how Hero Haven provides outdoor adventures for our nation’s heroes. Friday night, we show you how a local brewery is helping the organization fulfill its mission with a specialty brew.
On a gravel road east of Sioux Falls, you’ll find A Homestead Brew and its newest beer, Front Line Lager.
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“There’s no two-row malt in it, so it’s all Vienna, Munich 10, a little bit of Victory, so it’s all high end malts, so it’s essentially like all steak, no potato,” A Homestead Brew owner Lee Anderson said.
Lee Anderson owns A Homestead Brew and says a portion of every sale of Front Line Lager will benefit Hero Haven. The nonprofit was created to send Veterans and first responders on outdoor adventures.
“Trying to give them an experience to be able to go on hunts or try or reward them with a fishing trip or a special memory as a thank you for your hard work,” Anderson said.
“We know, down to within $50 or $75 what it costs us to send a hero on an adventure, we’ve been doing this for about four years, and I want to say about every 25 or 30 cases sold is going to pay for half of an adventure for a hero,” Hero Haven President Wade Blomgren said.
Wade Blomgren is the president of Hero Haven, and last spring approached A Homestead Brew about creating a beer for the nonprofit. Anderson offered to re-brand what he considers his best beer, Pheasantennial.
“Within about sixty days, it turned from Pheasantennial that sold pretty well during hunting season into Front Line Lager, and it’s just kind of a dream come true for Hero Haven,” Blomgren said.
A Homestead Brew will host a launch party for Front Line Lager on Saturday, allowing Anderson an opportunity to shine a spotlight on local heroes.
“I never was in the Army or anything like that but I’ve got great respect for everybody that protects my freedoms so I’m able to do this. Any way that I can give back and say thank you just makes me feel good and hopefully, it just raises awareness for other people to see the liberties that we have, how lucky we are,” Anderson said.
The event is Saturday at A Homestead Brew. Appetizers will be served at 6:00, followed by the official launch of Front Line Lager at 7:00.