Many of you have tried our hoppy amber ale, named “Valor”. Some of you may even know the origins of the name. For the rest of you, however, here’s a quick primer on how Valor came to be and why it is so near and dear to us:

As many of you know, we (Matt and Steve) have over 32 years of combined service in the Army, including 4 combat tours and 6 total deployments between us. As we inch toward retirement, 14th Star serves as the proverbial “light at the end of the tunnel” – keeping us focused on the tasks at hand and on building the brand. It also causes us to reflect on the last two decades of our life and all of the people who we’ve shared them with.

While many are still with us to laugh and reminisce about days gone by, far too many are no longer with us. Memorial Day is a day on the calendar, conveniently nestled into a long weekend, to remind folks to think of those who have gone before them – those who have paid the ultimate sacrifice in our names. For Matt and I, memorial day is not a day, rather it has become one of the founding principles for our brewery.

One of the greatest fears a Soldier can have is that his sacrifices will be for naught. We pledge that every day we’re in business is a day to remember, honor, and show our appreciation for those who ask so little, yet give so much.

One of the ways in which this philosphy manifests itself is in our production of Valor Ale. A portion of the proceeds of Valor go to supporting the Purple Hearts Reunited foundation (www.purpleheartsreunited.org), a non-profit foundation dedicated to returning lost or stolen Purple Hearts, America’s oldest medal which is awarded for wounds sustained in combat, and other medals of valor to the servicemen and women who earned them or their families.

Captain Zac Fike, a Purple Heart recipient himself, founded PHR and has spent the last three years, and tens of thousands of his own dollars returning these medals. Receiving no more than the thanks of a veteran or their families, Zac does what he does to ensure that the actions of these brave men and women never goes unnoticed or forgotten. 14th Star Brewing is proud to sponsor his efforts.

This Memorial Day, take a moment to crack open a Valor Ale – not just because it’s one of the best beers available in Vermont, but to say thank you to those who have given everything they could give so that we can enjoy a fresh craft beer whenever we choose.

We’re proud to be Vermont’s Veteran Owned Craft Brewery and invite you to join us in making every day a memorial day. Cheers!