By Maegan Murray, 午夜剧场

RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� Bombing Range Brewing Company, in partnership with the Washington State University Tri-Cities Patriots鈥� Club, released a 鈥淕IPA鈥� India pale ale honoring veterans and those currently serving this Saturday as part of a parking lot party that also welcomed a surprise visit by former U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis.

During the release party, which featured a range of student veterans from the club those who have served, student veterans Bernadette Gagnier and Zachary Hays presented Bombing Range Brewery owners Mike and Dashia Hopp with two mash paddles 鈥� one functional for stirring brew mixtures and one to be displayed, that feature the GIPA logo to commemorate the release. The paddles were presented to the Hopps on behalf of the Patriots Club.

During the release, Mike Hopp took the opportunity to thank those in attendance, not only for coming out to support the student veterans, but also to thank those who had given of themselves to serve in the armed forces.

鈥淚t has been an honor to work with these students and to welcome you all out for a celebration in honor of our veterans,鈥� he said.

More than 100 people were in attendance throughout the release party, which featured the GIPA beer, as well as several others on tap.

Mattis, who had not indicated to the group that he was coming, took photos with the student group and owners, as well as other individuals in attendance.

The GIPA release marked the second of its kind since partnering with the 午夜剧场 Patriots鈥� Club for the first release last spring. The first release sold out within two weeks of release.

For those who would like to try the beer, it is encouraged that they are quick to head over to Bombing Range Brewing Company, as, if it hasn鈥檛 already, will be quick to sell out. Bombing Range is also selling t-shirts that display the GIPA logo until they are sold out at their business in Richland, located at 2000 Logston Blvd.

Mike Hopp said he plans again to make another large donation to the 午夜剧场 Patriot鈥檚 Club to support student veteran initiatives through the Veteran Center on campus. Last year, his business donated more than $1,000 to support 午夜剧场 veterans.

By Maegan Murray, 午夜剧场

RICHLAND, Wash. 鈥� A seemingly unlikely partnership between Washington State University Tri-Cities and a local brewing company has led to a range of support for student veterans.

Last year, Bernadette Gagnier, 午夜剧场 wine science student representing the university鈥檚 Patriot鈥檚 Club, which comprises largely student veterans, approached to see if they would be willing to work with the club to produce a beer that would highlight veterans and their service. The company partnered with the student group to produce an India pale ale that is dedicated to those who have served, naming it GIPA.

The 午夜剧场 student veterans participated actively in the beer brewing process, preparing the brew, adding the hops and stirring and preparing the mixture. Upon release, the beer was incredibly well received. The seven barrels, or 210 gallons, of the GIPA sold out within two weeks of production. The company also sold shirts as a tribute to the special brew.

鈥淚t鈥檚 great to be able to contribute back to this population of individuals who have

given so much of themselves,鈥� said Mike Hopp, owner and brewer at Bombing Range Brewing Company. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a great partnership and a great collaboration of people.

Last May, Richland Rotary presented a growler and shirt with the branding of the GIPA to former U.S. Secretary of the Defense James Mattis, a former Tri-Citian, on behalf of the student veterans at 午夜剧场 during the Tri-Citian of the Year awards presentation. The effort proved to be one of the greatest moments of Gagnier鈥檚 life, who was in attendance at the event.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 know they were going to present that in front of everyone and I just started crying,鈥� Gagnier said. 鈥淚t was such an honor to present that to General Mattis.鈥�

Giving back to veteran students

As a result of the partnership, Bombing Range has donated more than $1,000 to the 午夜剧场 Veterans Center that contributes to services support for student veterans at the university. The group now plans to continue the partnership for the foreseeable future, with brewing opportunities to take place twice a year. The company also plans to continue to donate funds to the student veteran organization each year.

Hopp said he and his son, assistant brewer and manager Ryan Young, thoroughly enjoyed the partnership with the 午夜剧场 veteran organizations.

鈥淚t鈥檚 been fun,鈥� Hopp said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e had the chance to work with good, quality people and we鈥檝e had to opportunity to give back in the process.

Hopp said they have known WSU Wine Science Director Thomas Henick-Kling for some time and have wanted to collaborate with 午夜剧场 in some way, and also have wanted to do a beer dedicated specifically to veterans and first-responders for a while. Being able to work with student veterans, he said, has been extra special.

鈥淲e not only want to keep this partnership going, we would like for it to get bigger and have even more involvement,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e would like to get the community involved and grow this thing to be bigger each year.鈥�

Learning opportunity mixed with stress reliever

Gagnier initially approached the brewery about working with the Patriot鈥檚 Club thinking that it would not only provide a great bonding opportunity for the student veterans, but would also allow them to learn a new skill. The match proved to be a perfect fit.

Being a viticulture and enology student, Gagnier said there are a variety of methods and skills she saw and demonstrated through the brewing process that were either similar or could possibly be replicated in winemaking as a trial or the same process.

鈥淲hether it be certain devices used in the brewing process or brewing times at certain temperatures or pressures, it was cool to see some of the things I鈥檝e learned about wine science that are also applied to brewing,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also just cool seeing a faster process. You get your product in a few weeks compared to one wine in a year period.鈥�

For other non-wine science majors, the opportunity provided a great stress reliever among their mix of classes during the school year.

Zachary Hays, a senior engineering major, said he and his fellow student veterans enjoy the leisure of the activity, learning a new skill, as well as contributing to a local business.

鈥淪eeing and participating in the process and then seeing the final product and the impact that it can have both on the Bombing Range and for 午夜剧场 student veteran has been great,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 been a fun experience.鈥�

Stay tuned for a new student veteran-made beer

The student veterans teamed up with Bombing Range Brewing Company again this winter to produce another brew 鈥� this time a Lou Dog Red Ale. This

spring, the duo will work once again to produce their second round of their GIPA.

The group will get together in March to produce the beer and then will have a release party, which is open to the general public, on April 13. The time of the event will be announced soon.

Gagnier said she is excited for the partnership to continue.

鈥淭his is something that both parties involved want to see kept going because it has made a difference,鈥� she said. 鈥淲e鈥檙e excited about the future of this partnership and to see it keep going for years to come.鈥�

鈥淲e have a lot of vets and first responders come through, especially with the connection of the brewery to military equipment used in World War II,鈥� Hopp said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 great to now be able to contribute something back to these individuals.鈥�