A brewery in Virginia has developed a special beer that not only recognizes wildland firefighters but will help support the Wildland Firefighter Foundation (WFF). The One Foot in the Black beer is a smoked black IPA that was brewed to honor wildland firefighters. According to the Devils Backbone Brewing Company, it has “a smoky flavor that that interplays with the pine character of American hops”.
The name of the special brew comes from the advice to stay on the edge of the burned area on a wildland fire because usually it can be used as a safety zone. The beer was designed by brewer Erik Filep who himself is a wildland firefighter.
The company will donate 50 percent of the per pint and per growler sales to the WFF, a non-profit organization that assists wildland firefighters and the families of firefighters injured or killed while on the job.
This is not the first time a brewer has supported the WFF. In 2014 during the Coors Banquet “Protect Our West” program, the company contributed 25 cents to the WFF for every case of the beer sold in select states in the Western region throughout July and August, up to $250,000.
Thanks and a tip of the hat go out to Pete.
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Cannery Brewing is a small craft brewery based in Penticton BC (in the fire prone southern Okanagan Valley). Since 2012, Cannery has produced a seasonal beer: Wildfire IPA – also a black, moderately hopped brew. A portion of the proceeds from each run – and it always sells out – go to support the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation (cfff.ca).
Cannery is by no means the size of Coors, but its community spirit and support of wildland firefighters is nevertheless just as strong.
In an industry where Alcoholism is on average much much higher than any other….. Sweet. Now we just need “Spot Fire” Copenhagen to go along with it.
I’d drink to that!