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

In the Beginning.,.

I had a call, a good old-fashioned Call from God. God told me I was going to be a military Chaplain. I couldn’t believe it; couldn’t hear it; didn’t understand what God wanted with a barely working Contract lawyer, former bartender & slightly bitter Preacher’s daughter. And from the moment I had the Call to my admission to buddies to admission to Seminary & swearing into the Army was less than a year. God had other plans & a CLEAR path. All obstacles fell away. Enemies became friends & my bigger purpose in life started speaking and had a name.

I’ll have eternal gratitude to F. Heinrich & all the Anti-Terrorism Taskforce buddies that made me follow that initial Call. Fast forward to January 2012 when God placed a former Army SGT Cavalry Scout in my path in Robinson, IL who supported my mission, and our paths aligned 23 June 2012 in a beautiful wedding in a cave in Bowling Green, KY. My wedding present answered his interest in science, creating, and a love of craft beer. Little did I know I was unleashing my new husband's passion at brewing with that first Irish Stout brew kit. I just remembered he liked Guinness. Our love of craft beer and helping others began that day in 2012. 

Once Upon a Beer...

My appreciation for beer began in Germany. I was stationed there in the US Army in 2001.  I had only been there a few days, when I bought a six pack of a well known American beer (rhymes with butt wiper) from the shoppette by my barracks.  I hadn't even made it to my room before I got several disapproving looks from my fellow troops.  My roommate took one look at the beer in my hand, laughed and said "FNG!" while shaking his head.  That was the last American beer product I purchased during my time there.


SGT James Lane, US Army

I then began to broaden my beer horizons.  Tasting my first Hefeweizen was mind blowing.  There was so much flavor!  I was hooked!  I began sampling all the different styles of German beer I could find. My love affair with Hefeweizens almost caused me to fail a height and weight test.  Eventually my beer travels led me to Kreuzberg where I reached beer nirvana! 



Kloster Kreuzberg Germany



For those of you who are unfamiliar with Kreuzberg, I'm sorry for your loss. Kreuzberg is the home of a Monastery where the Monks brew and sell their beer on site.  You have to make the trek up a giant hill to reach it (no small feat in the winter of Germany).  Once your weary legs reach their taproom you are rewarded with a Kloster Kreuzberg Dunkel that is barely carbonated, has a dark amber hue, and a faint butterscotch taste.  You sit down, thinking that you will never leave this taproom, and you will just live here.  However, four pints later your face hurts from laughing and carrying on with your friends, and you are ready to slide down the hill on your belly like a cartoon penguin.  There was something peaceful and joyous about the atmosphere in their taproom.  It was this beer that ultimately led me to become a home brewer.

Fast forward to June of 2012: I got married to a courageous woman whose passion for life warmed my heart and made my head spin.  As a wedding gift, I received a Irish Stout beer kit. It was an Extract beer kit. I purchased a brewers starter kit at a local homebrew supply store and with the aid of my brother Chris, we made our first batch of brew.  I don't think we let it age in the bottle for longer then a week before it was gone.  The brewing bug sank its teeth into me, and I've been brewing beer ever since.

As of today, I've brewed around 30 batches of beer.  I've acquired more patience and appreciation for the process then I had when I started brewing.  There is something magical and therapeutic about brewing.  Staying present in the moment and the process, realizing the parts of the process that are in your control and the parts that aren't, grounds me.

Please join us on our path to brewing great beer, honoring the sacrifice of our fallen brothers and sisters in arms, and spreading benevolence to mankind.  No matter who you are, or where you are on your journey...there will always be a seat at our table for you.

Why a Nonprofit Brewery?

Our passion is doing ministry & honoring our fallen Brothers and Sisters. We also love to brew and drink great craft beer. We love to help people who are also doing great missions. My wife used to represent nonprofit organizations as a lawyer and understands the complexities of what we’re setting out to do. We have met with several law firms and think this is challenging & doable considering our background and experience. Join us on our journey as we tell our stories, tell the stories of the Fallen & share creative best practices in how to help others while brewing craft beer. Salud!