Partnership with Bombing Range Brewing Company provides support for student veterans

By Maegan Murray, WSU Tri-Cities

RICHLAND, Wash. – 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.

WSU Tri-Cities student veterans pose for a photo with Bombing Range Brewery owners at their location in Richland

Last year, Bernadette Gagnier, WSU Tri-Cities wine science student representing the university’s Patriot’s Club, which comprises largely student veterans, approached Bombing Range Brewing Company 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 WSU Tri-Cities 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.

“It’s great to be able to contribute back to this population of individuals who have

given so much of themselves,” said Mike Hopp, owner and brewer at Bombing Range Brewing Company. “It’s been a great partnership and a great collaboration of people.

A WSU Tri-Cities student veteran works with Bombing Range brewers to make what would become the Bombing Range Brewing Company’s Lou Dog Red Ale.

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 WSU Tri-Cities during the Tri-Citian of the Year awards presentation. The effort proved to be one of the greatest moments of Gagnier’s life, who was in attendance at the event.

“I didn’t know they were going to present that in front of everyone and I just started crying,” Gagnier said. “It was such an honor to present that to General Mattis.”

Giving back to veteran students

As a result of the partnership, Bombing Range has donated more than $1,000 to the WSU Tri-Cities 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.

WSU Tri-Cities student veterans chat with Bombing Range Brewing Company owners while tasting a selection of their beers.

Hopp said he and his son, assistant brewer and manager Ryan Young, thoroughly enjoyed the partnership with the WSU Tri-Cities veteran organizations.

“It’s been fun,” Hopp said. “We’ve had the chance to work with good, quality people and we’ve 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 WSU Tri-Cities 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.

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

Learning opportunity mixed with stress reliever

Gagnier initially approached the brewery about working with the Patriot’s 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.

WSU Tri-Cities student veterans work with Bombing Range Brewing Company to brew a beer that would be sold a few weeks later through the company.

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.

“Whether 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’ve learned about wine science that are also applied to brewing,” she said. “It’s also just cool seeing a faster process. You get your product in a few weeks compared to one wine in a year period.”

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.

“Seeing 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 WSU Tri-Cities student veteran has been great,” he said. “It’s been a fun experience.”

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 – this time a Lou Dog Red Ale. This

A tasting glass of a mixture that would become the Bombing Range Brewing Company’s Loug Dog Red Ale.

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.

“This is something that both parties involved want to see kept going because it has made a difference,” she said. “We’re excited about the future of this partnership and to see it keep going for years to come.”

“We 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,” Hopp said. “It’s great to now be able to contribute something back to these individuals.”