On Tuesday, May 21, Stone Brewing Co. CEO Greg Koch met with San Diego Padres catcher John Baker, relief pitcher Luke Gregerson, infielder/outfielder Kyle Blanks and utility infielder Logan Forsythe at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station to share a unique beer Brewing Manager Kris Ketcham brewed on the venue’s new 10-barrel brewhouse. Dubbed Operation Homefront IPA, it was brewed as part of the Hops For Heroes initiative borne from non-profit organization Operation Homefront which supports U.S. military families. Several brewing companies from around the country brewed a batch of Operation Homefront IPA to raise money and awareness for the cause. In addition to participating breweries, partners of Hops for Heroes include Louisville Slugger and Major League Baseball.
Operation Homefront IPA is an India pale ale brewed with orange and hopped with Chinook and Cascade which then rested in fermenter tanks with untreated maple Louisville Slugger bats. The result is a beer with plenty of citrus overtones and a multi-faceted woody character.
When it was time to remove the bats from the tank, the aforementioned Padres players came over from PETCO Park to do the honors. When the bats came out, they were coated in hop residue, and smelled so richly of inviting hops that Gregerson couldn’t resist the urge to take a taste. Soon, his teammates followed suit. Forsythe proved the biggest hophead of the bunch, going in for seconds.
In between licks of the bat, Baker took time to share why participating in the Hops For Heroes program was so important to him, noting that, although baseball players are often looked on as heroes, it’s the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces who protect our liberties and way of life that are the ultimate heroes. Like us, Baker and company were thrilled to have the opportunity to show our respect for our soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines, and take a step toward reciprocity for their sacrifices in some small way.
Stone Operation Homefront IPA will go on sale at Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Liberty Station, Stone Brewing World Bistro & Gardens – Escondido, Stone Company Store – Liberty Station, Stone Company Store – Escondido and Stone Company Store – Oceanside on Memorial Day, May 27, and at Stone Company Store – South Park on May 26. For more information about Hops For Heroes, visit their official website http://hopsforheroes.com/.
Information obtained via press release