Thank You For Your Service: A Veterans Blend Beer Released in Guam

Carabao Brewing in Guam, celebrated and honored Veterans with the release of their Thank You For Your Service (T.Y.F.Y.S.) Pale Ale in November. Brewed with YCH's 5th Annual Veterans Blend, both the sales of the hops and the beer will support the Hunter Seven Foundation. HunterSeven Foundation is a Veteran-founded, nonprofit organization that specializes in medical research and education specifically on the post-9/11 veteran cohort. The HunterSeven Foundation has quickly become the leaders in identifying potential toxic exposures and subsequent illnesses in military veterans and in turn is able to educate both the veteran population and the healthcare providers who care for them on critical health information relating to their exposures utilizing evidence-based practice.

Each year YCH collaborates with Veterans from the brewing industry to select both the hop blend and non-profit organization that directly supports various aspects of the Veteran community and bring value to the lives of those who have served. YCH donates $3/pound sold to the selected nonprofit organization that provides support for the Veteran community.  This is the fifth year for the Veterans Blend and it is comprised of HBC 586, Triumph, Chinook, Ekuanot®, and Idaho 7® hops. Delivering big citrus and tropical aromas backed by dank woody and sweet aromatic notes.

The Veterans Blend is one of the first products that is process by Yakima Chief Hops in order to be able for it to ship into the hands of brewers to brew Veterans Day release beers. It has become a symbol of the beginning of the production season as the first bags of the Veterans Blend are sealed, boxed, and shipped out to brewers across the nation.

The Veterans Blend is one of the first products that is process by Yakima Chief Hops in order to be able for it to ship into the hands of brewers to brew Veterans Day release beers. It has become a symbol of the beginning of the production season as the first bags of the Veterans Blend are sealed, boxed, and shipped out to brewers across the nation.

This year, YCH team member Madison DeFrang traveled to Guam to visit the Carabao crew in celebration of the release of Thank You For Your Service and to lead a hop rub sensory session for event attendees. It was a great experience for all with active military and veterans in attendance rubbing hops, enjoying T.Y.F.Y.S, and raising pints for all those who have served. 

Carabao was founded in 2018 by team Ben and Anna Johnson and is located Hagåtña, Guam, who moved to Guam with the mission to bring good craft beer to the island and those who reside there. Carabao Brewing is located roughly 12 kilometers from the Guam Naval base and 15 kilometers from the Anderson Air Force Base. With the close proximity to those stationed on the bases, a Thank You For Your Service beer delivers exactly as the name says…sincere gratitude to military members for their sacrifice.

T.Y.F.Y.S. (5.4% ABV / 43 IBU) is a juicy tropical pale ale brings on aromas and flavors of overripe mango, passionfruit, and bright citrus.

Following the T.Y.F.Y. release, the Carabao team, Madison, and a group of active military members  from the base and veterans brewed a collab with YCH 301 trial and Veterans Blend. The latest trial product released by Yakima Chief Hops, YCH 301 Trial combines flash-frozen whole-cone wet hops with the innovative technology of Cryo Hops® to pioneer a new way to brew fresh hop ales with a pelletized product. The brew crew used Mosaic® and Simcoe® YCH 301 Trial to brew Gold Star (7% ABV / 34 IBU), an American IPA. The West Coast IPA honors those who lost their lives during military service and the family members who supported them. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Guam USO. 

What is YCH 301?

YCH 301 Trial is part of the Yakima Chief Hops Elite Product Trial program. It requires a two-part production process.

First, freshly harvested, un-kilned whole cone hops undergo a flash freezing process in a state-of-the-art BRC-certified food processing facility. This helps retain the delicate nuances of fresh hops from both a physical and aromatic perspective by protecting cell wall and lupulin gland integrity. This results in a product that preserves the magic of fresh hop aromas and flavors.

The Frozen Fresh Hops are then produced into concentrated lupulin pellets with YCH’s fully patented cryogenic hop processing technology that gently separates the whole cones and isolates the lupulin. The lupulin containing the aromatic hop oils is preserved using extremely low temperatures and a nitrogen-rich, low oxygen environment during the entire process. This creates a concentrated lupulin, fresh hop product that can be used anywhere in the brewhouse.

It was an exciting moment for all to brew a fresh hop beer in Guam as the Fresh Hop style has traditionally been limited to Pacific Northwest breweries who were located within driving distance of the hop farms located in the Yakima Valley (WA), Willamette Valley (OR), and Treasure Valley (ID), where the majority of hops are grown in the United States. The innovative process of YCH 301 Trial opens doors for brewers far and wide to achieve the unique flavor and aromas profiles of Fresh Hop beers.

It was an honor and a privilege for Yakima Chief Hops to be present for the release of Thank you For Your Service and have the opportunity to brew another exciting beer with a terrific crew!

Cheers!