Just in time for Memorial Day, 11 breweries are participating in Hops for Heroes and releasing Homefront IPA.
The beer was developed in 2011 by Fremont Brewing Co. and Center of the Universe Brewing Co. to raise money and awareness for Operation Homefront. The charity provides emergency assistance to military heroes and their families. Homefront IPA is brewed with fresh orange zest and aged on Louisville Slugger maple bats.
One-hundred percent of the proceeds of Homefront IPA go towards Operation Homefront. With the help of six participating breweries and other organizations that donated the hops and grains used to make the beer, Hops for Heroes raised roughly $80,000 dollars for Operation Homefront in 2013. This year, Hops for Heroes is hoping to top $200,000 and is set to brew 800 barrels of beer between the 11 participating breweries, according to a press release from Fremont Brewing Co.
Participating breweries include:
Center of the Universe Brewing Co., Ashland, VA: Chris Ray, a former closing pitcher for the Baltimore Orioles, is the co-founder of Center of the Universe Brewing Co. and Hops for Heroes.
Fremont Brewing Co., Seattle, WA
Sly Fox Brewery, Pottstown, PA
Cigar City Brewing, Tampa, FL: Cigar City will hold a release event for Homefront IPA at its tasting room at 3924 West Spruce Street in Tampa on May 28, at 6 p.m. This will be the first time guests can purchase the beer at the brewery on draft and in 6-pack cans. Homefront IPA will also be released into Cigar City’s distribution network.
Perennial Artisan Ales, St. Louis, MO
Saint Arnold Brewing Co., Houston, TX: When Saint Arnold last brewed Homefront IPA in 2012, the brewery, along with its supplier and distributor partners, donated over $125,000 to Operation Homefront.
21st Amendment Brewery, San Francisco
Left Hand Brewing Co., Longmont, CO: In 2013, Left Hand raised $18,148 for the Operation Homefront Rocky Mountains Office. Left Hand Brewing Co. is proud to express our gratitude and give back to our service members who put the needs of our nation before their own.
Stone Brewing Co., Escondido, CA
Palmetto Brewing Co., Charleston, SC
Maui Brewing Co., Lahaina, HI
More: Read about military veterans joining ranks with the beer industry.
GREAT idea!! I will look for it in my area and support it.