‘Buy a Vet a Beer’at Eden Town Brewing Co.

DENTON – A new program is brewing at Eden Town Brewing Co. in Denton. The business is preparing to open its doors, and with it, Sarah and Matt Dahl hope to start a successful campaign to give back to our local veterans. They’ve teamed up with Margie Hannawald to found Eden Town’s ‘Buy a Vet a Beer’ initiative, an ongoing effort to give back to those who give their all to our country.

The concept is simple: a running bar tab funded by patrons for veterans and active-duty military members. Anyone can add to the tab at any time, and veterans who visit can simply show their military ID to receive their first beer on the house. The program officially launches November 15 and will remain active year-round.

The idea was brought to the Dahls by Margie Hannawald, a longtime friend of Sarah’s. Hannawald, who often visits small breweries with her husband Jered, had seen similar programs in other states and thought Denton’s first brewery would be the perfect place to start one locally.

“I learned at a very young age the sacrifices made by our veterans and the meaning behind the term ‘freedom is not free,’” Hannawald said. “My grandfather, Ernest Smith, was a Pearl Harbor survivor. He was shot in the head twice during World War II and was lucky to make it back home to his family farm. He raised his family there and spent a great deal of his adulthood giving back to his community.” Her grandfather and the others in her life who have served inspire Hannawald to “continue sharing their stories and giving back to other veterans in their honor.”

When Hannawald shared her idea with the Dahls, they immediately agreed to help make it happen. Sarah Dahl’s brother, Zach Minner, is currently serving as a helicopter pilot at Andrews Air Force Base. “My brother went to the Air Force Academy and has been active duty ever since, including a deployment to Afghanistan,” Dahl said. “His service, as well as that of others in my family, has definitely made me more appreciative of the sacrifice and dedication that our military men and women have.”

For Dahl, Buy a Vet a Beer is just a more formalized version of everyday acts of kindness often shown to veterans. “I think a lot of people, if they see a member of the military or a veteran at a restaurant, will show their appreciation by paying for their meal or buying them a drink,” she said, “this is the same concept, but we want to make it available all the time. If you’re at Eden Town Brewery and can spare a few dollars, you can add money to the Buy a Vet a Beer bar tab. Then if you’re a veteran or serving in the military, you can use that tab to get a free drink. The goal is just to show appreciation for those who have served our country.”

The program’s purpose, Hannawald added, extends far beyond free alcohol: “The goal is to have a small way to give back to our veterans,” she said. “By giving them a beer on us, it is a way to say thank you for your service and acknowledge the sacrifices made for our country.”

“Veterans serve this country every day,” Hannawald said, “and so every day the brewery is open, they’ll be served a cold one with our thanks and appreciation.” Even though it is available to contribute or cash in on every day of the year, Hannawald and the Dahls plan to host an annual “Refilling the Mugs” event around Veterans Day to keep the fund replenished.