LAKE GEORGE, N.Y. — For the fifth consecutive year, Adirondack Pub & Brewery has crafted a special Veterans Day brew to honor those who have served in the U.S. military. This year’s limited-edition beer, named DD-214, is a nod to the military form given to veterans when they transition out of service.
Bob Shafer, the head brewer at the Lake George brewery and an Air Force veteran, explained the inspiration behind the brew. “DD-214 is the form you get when you leave the military; it’s what officially makes you a veteran,” Shafer said. “The idea came from a hops company, YCH, which creates a special veterans’ blend each year and donates the proceeds to veteran charities. I decided to incorporate those hops into our beer and pitched the idea to our owner, John Carr. Five years later, we’re still doing it.”
The collaboration doesn’t stop at the brewing process. On brew day, Shafer invites fellow veterans from the local American Legion Post 374 to participate. “I step back and let the veterans take over,” he said. “I’m there just to guide them. It’s their chance to brew the beer themselves.”
In addition to brewing, veterans also help with canning the beer. “Today, we had a few veterans come in to work the canning line,” Shafer said. “We give away most of the beer to local veterans at the post. We’ve already sent over ten cases for them to enjoy, and we’ll keep them stocked as long as supplies last.”
The DD-214 beer itself is a blonde IPA, made with YCH’s special hop blend. While it retains the hop-forward flavors of a traditional IPA, Shafer described it as “fruit-forward” and “a little hazy,” with a smooth, drinkable profile that’s not as heavily juicy as some of the more intensely hazy IPAs.
Shafer, who served in the Air Force, emphasized the significance of the brewery’s annual tribute to veterans. “Veterans often go unrecognized, and I think it’s important to honor their service,” he explained. “People celebrate actors and sports stars as heroes, but without a strong military, none of the freedoms we enjoy would be possible.”
The veteran community continues to shrink in size, and Shafer sees this annual brew as his way of giving back. “Veterans face challenges that most people don’t understand,” he said. “Brewing this beer is just a small gesture, but it’s my way of saying, ‘I know what you’ve gone through.’ It’s a way of thanking them.”
Adirondack Pub & Brewery will continue to serve DD-214 until supplies run out, ensuring local veterans can enjoy the special brew long after Veterans Day.
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