New brew supports veterans

Captain (Retired) Graeme Hafey and Master Corporal (Retired) John Bowker raise a toast celebrating the launch of their company V2V Black Hops Brewing Company at Victoria’s Caledonia Brewery Distillery.

Captain (Retired) Graeme Hafey and Master Corporal (Retired) John Bowker raise a toast celebrating the launch of their company V2V Black Hops Brewing Company at Victoria’s Caledonia Brewery Distillery.

Peter Mallett, Staff Writer ~

The founders of a new micro-brewery, with an aim to support veterans’ programs, say their motto is the age-old military battle creed of “leave no one behind.”

V2V Black Hops Brewing Company founder, Captain (Retired) Graeme Hafey, an ex-RCAF pilot, says it is not a hollow cliché. With business partner, Master Corporal (Retired) John Bowker, the brewery donates part of the profits to Cockrell House, a West Shore facility that provides transitional housing and support for homeless and at-risk veterans.

“Everyone has to get over the fence, not just the most agile and best climbers. It’s a unit, a cohesive bond of brothers and sisters in arms who can trust each other when things go wrong,” says Hafey.

The brewery was born following their lengthy careers in the Canadian Armed Forces, which left them both battling Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder from their work in war-torn countries and several deployments. Their logo features the silhouette of a kneeling Canadian soldier paying homage to a fallen comrade represented by a lone helmet on top of a rifle.

Brewed under licensing from Victoria’s Caledonia Brewery Distillery, they turned out their first batch of beer on Nov. 1, 2018, just in time for Remembrance Day and the centenary of the end of the First World War.

As a nod to mark the Armistice they called the English-style bitter Victory Ale.

Currently, they are a three-person operation with a head brewer, who is also a chemist and University of Victoria student.

Gaining a foothold in a competitive West Coast micro-brew market isn’t easy admits Hafey. They don’t have the distribution, marketing, budget, or aggressive sales techniques of larger breweries, which makes getting into local pubs a battle. They are hoping their support of veteran programs will get them in front of customers.

“The doors are slowly opening to support us,” says Hafey.

V2V recently signed a letter of intent to have proceeds of their sales go to support Alberta-based equine therapy group Can Praxis, an organization that helps military and first responder veterans and their families cope with the impact of PTSD and mental health issues through riding and caring for horses.

In the coming months, V2V plans on expanding their donations to more organizations that provide support to former and current first responders also suffering from mental health problems.

For more information about V2V Brewery visit their Facebook page or their website V2Vblackhopsbrewing.ca

To get a taste of their ale visit the Pacific Fleet Club, the Wardroom, or The Churchill pub downtown. Their ale will be available in liquor stores after March 12.

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