Aww Snap; Honolulu On Tap

Having missed Honolulu on Tap my first year on the island, there was nothing that was going to stop my attendance this year!  As I walked into the Blaisdell Center, I was greeted by the sound of what seemed like a thousand conversations going on at once.  There were booths of beer vendors lining the exterior and vendors back to back running down the middle of the aisles.  Tiny glasses filled with tiny bubbles and giant smiles adorned everyone in the room.  All my local Hawaiian favorites made it: Waikiki Brewing, Maui Brewing, Lanikai, Home of the Brave, Honolulu Beer Works.  Some of the newer breweries on the scene like Beer Lab were also there.

Some of the beers I sampled stood out as new and interesting, like Belching Beaver's: Mexican Chocolate Peanut Butter Stout.  It was slightly spicy, with the smoothness of their usual PB Stout.  It was definitely worth a pint...but not more than one in a session.  Lanikai was serving up a Double Dry Hopped Sour Ale called Pinehopple Swipe that was a great Sour; not over the top with the pucker factor, smooth and drinkable.  The latest craze in IPAs  made it's showing with Heretic Bewing's Make America Juicy Again which was a great example of the hazy, juicy, and smooth style of IPA.  Beer Lab brought out several samples, which I tried all of…and vaguely remember that I really enjoyed their Rye Kage.

 I could go on and on about all the beers I remember sampling, but I love beer...so I don't remember all of them. Note to self, next fest...take better notes! If you have never been to a beer fest you should go now!

What Comes After War...

On Easter (Resurrection Sunday for us Christians) AND April Fools' Day (apparently for the ironic Atheists), I got an email from a nice lady named Katie at Fort Knox. I'd like to share it with fans and encouragers of our brewery:  

CPT Lane,
 Your request to transfer Post 9/11 GI Bill benefits to your eligible dependent(s) has been approved with an incurred obligation until 20220322.

V/R,

Katie B

Why is this important you may wonder? People transfer GI Bills all the time you may ponder. I'll tell you why this email had my heart pattering with excitement. After I had my Call to be a military Chaplain and before I had been sworn into the Army by my mentor & best friend LTC (USA RET) Keith Donnelly, I met my husband, James at a local pub (literally The Pub) in our hometown, Robinson, IL. We talked for hours that first night about our fallen friends and brothers. My roommate in San Diego was on the SEAL Team 3 that lost Heroes like Michael Monsoor and Mark Lee and later Chris Kyle and Ryan Job. I had great empathy for James’ pain after losing so many of my own friends.

Ryan Job, Navy SEAL

 He spoke through a few tears at my Swearing In Ceremony at Hutsonville Baptist Church, IL (the first Church to Call me to preach in Illinois) about his rough tour in Iraq in 2004 and the power of military Chaplains' (Army for him) presence on the battlefield nurturing the living, caring for the wounded and honoring the fallen. Later, my Call would lead him back to his own Chaplain, now a LTC, at my Army Chaplain graduation at Fort Jackson, CH (LTC) Gary Fisher. All along our crazy journey that allowed a Cavalry Scout to marry an Army Chaplain, my Calling was front and center for both of us. He repeatedly has told me since day 1 that he's as passionate about my Call, because of what he saw on the Battlefield, as I am. I wrote about some of those experiences in "Healing Soul Wounds from War" which is under consideration for publication. 

He has been a tireless supporter even when others might reject what God had set before me to accomplish. I love James and greatly appreciate what he and his brothers (including his Chaplain) sacrificed during over 160 Combat Missions in 1 year in Iraq, mentally, physically and spiritually. The least this country can do is honor him with free education to follow his dreams (mainly this nonprofit brewery.) He used his first GI Bill in the foggy PTSD lense of post-war barely knowing what he needed or wanted. After counseling, reflection and growth, he will now be able to go to school for brewing, culinary, his IT Masters or whatever he would like to learn about! I am SO proud of him and happy to serve helping other Soldiers until 2022 as an Army Chaplain to make that happen for him!

For God and Country - CH (CPT) Jennifer Lane, wife of an amazing 19D & US Army Veteran & Brewer

CH Lane with SPC Alston at Pohakuloa Training Area Hawaii